Experience in Resistance Training Does Not Prevent Reduction in Muscle Strength Evoked by Passive Static Stretching

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research Vol. 27; no. 8; pp. 2304 - 2308
• Main Authors: Serra, Andrey J, Silva, José A, Marcolongo, Alessandra A, Manchini, Martha T, Oliveira, João V.A, Santos, Luis F.N, Rica, Roberta L, Bocalini, Danilo S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Copyright by the National Strength & Conditioning Association 01-08-2013; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Body Composition; Exercise; Human performance; Humans; Lower Extremity - physiopathology; Male; Men; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle Stretching Exercises - adverse effects; Muscle Weakness - etiology; Muscle Weakness - prevention & control; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Muscular system; Physical Fitness - physiology; Resistance Training; Torso - physiopathology; Upper Extremity - physiopathology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1064-8011; 1533-4287
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31827969eb

ABSTRACTSerra, AJ, Silva Jr, JA, Marcolongo, AA, Manchini, MT, Oliveira, JVA, Santos, LFN, Rica, RL, and Bocalini, DS. Experience in resistance training does not prevent reduction in muscle strength evoked by passive static stretching. J Strength Cond Res 27(8)2304–2308, 2013—This study examined whether passive static stretching reduces the maximum muscle strength achieved by different body segments in untrained and resistance-trained subjects. Twenty adult men were assigned to 1 of the following groupsuntrained (UT, N = 9) and resistance-trained (RT, N = 11) groups. The subjects performed six 1 repetition maximum (1RM) load tests of the following exerciseshorizontal bench press, lat pull-downs, bicep curls, and 45° leg press. The results achieved in the last two 1RM tests were used for statistical analyses. A passive static stretching program was incorporated before the sixth 1RM test. The body fat content was significantly higher in the UT group compared with the RT group (p < 0.0001). Moreover, the RT group showed significantly higher proportion of lean body mass compared with the UT group (p < 0.0001). Maximum muscle strength on all 4 exercises was significantly reduced in both groups after stretching (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the magnitude of muscle strength reduction was similar for the UT and the RT groups. The exception was for barbell curls, in which the muscle strength depression was significantly higher in the UT group compared with the RT group (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, the passive static stretching program was detrimental to upper- and lower-body maximal muscle strength performance in several body segments. The negative effects of stretching were similar for subjects participating in resistance training regimens.