ABSTRACT:
The purpose of this study was to examine the
optimal length of time for stretching the hamstring. The importance of
such information could be used in the clinical rehabilitation world and
the sports world. The study used as many healthy subjects as would volunteer.
They were randomly placed in one of three groups using the random numbers
table. All subjects were tested prior to stretching to measure their hamstring.
Group one was stretched for fifteen seconds. Group two was stretched for
seventy-five seconds. Group three was stretched for five sets of fifteen
seconds each, with thirty seconds rest each, with thirty seconds rest between
sets. Subjects were stretched three times a week for two weeks. One of
the researchers manually applied a stretch to the hamstring while controlling
the direction, speed, intensity, and duration of the stretch to soft tissues.
Subjects were measured and stretched while in supine. The subject's non-tested
leg was held to the table with a belt. Data were analyzed using a one-way
ANOVA, and a post hoc analysis. It was hypothesized that there would be
a difference between the three groups for hamstring flexibility and five
sets of fifteen seconds would've produced the best results.