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Updated: May 17, 2025
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Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
Published on: May 1, 2018
15.2K
Passive vs. active warm-up combined with stretching on hamstring flexibility and maximal voluntary contractions
Marion Hitier1,2,3, Denis César Leite Vieira1,2,4, Carole Cometti1,2
1Sport Science Faculty, Cognition, Action and sensorymotor plasticity (INSERM UMR1093-CAPS), Université Bourgogne Europe, Dijon, France.
Plos One
|May 7, 2025
Summary
Both active and passive warm-ups effectively enhance hamstring flexibility. Stretching further improves flexibility, regardless of the method used, without negatively impacting muscle viscoelastic properties.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Warm-up protocols are crucial for preparing muscles for physical activity.
- Different warm-up strategies (active vs. passive) and stretching techniques (static vs. neurodynamic) may influence muscle function.
- Understanding their combined effects on hamstring function is important for optimizing athletic performance and injury prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of passive and active warm-up protocols combined with static or neurodynamic stretching on hamstring muscle function.
- To evaluate changes in flexibility, muscle stiffness, and maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque.
- To assess the electromyographic (EMG) activity of hamstring muscles during MVC.
Main Methods:
- Sixteen participants underwent three randomized experimental sessions involving different warm-up and stretching combinations.
- Warm-up protocols included a 20-minute passive hot-room session or a 10-minute active cycling and sub-maximal contraction protocol.
- Stretching involved six sets of 30-second static or neurodynamic stretches, with flexibility, passive knee extension, and MVC tests performed pre- and post-intervention. EMG was recorded during MVC.
Main Results:
- A significant time effect was observed for flexibility, with improvements noted after both active and passive warm-ups and further increases after stretching, irrespective of the modality.
- Electromyographic activity of the semitendinosus muscle decreased after stretching compared to post-warm-up measurements.
- No significant differences were found between conditions or time points for maximal torque or hamstring stiffness.
Conclusions:
- Both active and passive warm-up methods are effective in enhancing hamstring flexibility.
- Stretching, regardless of static or neurodynamic type, further improves flexibility without altering muscle viscoelastic properties.
- Warm-up and stretching protocols can enhance flexibility without compromising hamstring muscle strength or stiffness.
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