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Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
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Eccentric exercise improves joint flexibility in adults: A systematic review update and meta-analysis.
Joanna Diong1, Peter C Carden2, Kieran O'Sullivan3
1School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Musculoskeletal Science & Practice
|April 7, 2022
Summary
Eccentric exercise significantly enhances joint flexibility in adults, demonstrating a moderately large effect. This finding, supported by robust meta-analysis, offers valuable insights for physical therapy and athletic training.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Medicine
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Joint flexibility is crucial for physical function and injury prevention.
- Eccentric exercise is a proposed method for improving joint flexibility.
- The precise impact of eccentric exercise on joint flexibility remains to be quantified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the effects of eccentric exercise on joint flexibility in adults.
- To quantify the overall effect size of eccentric exercise on joint range of motion and muscle fascicle length.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Searched multiple databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SportDiscus.
- Extracted data on joint range of motion and muscle fascicle length, analyzing with random effects models.
Main Results:
- Included 32 trials with 1122 participants; meta-analysis comprised 27 trials (911 participants).
- Eccentric exercise demonstrated a significant improvement in joint flexibility (SMD = 0.54, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.74).
- The effect size was moderately large with good precision, though heterogeneity was observed across studies.
Conclusions:
- Eccentric exercise is an effective intervention for improving joint flexibility in adults.
- The findings provide a quantitative estimate of the benefits of eccentric exercise for joint mobility.
- This evidence supports the integration of eccentric exercise into training and rehabilitation programs.
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