The acute effects of hamstring stretching and vibration on dynamic knee joint range of motion and jump performance

Abstract Objectives To investigate dynamic knee joint range of motion (ROM) and jump performance following a single bout of passive hamstring stretching, hamstring vibration or a combination of both. Design Knee joint dynamic ROM and jump performance were assessed prior to, immediately following and 10 min following stretching and vibration of the hamstring muscles. The study was a crossover design with all participants completing three interventions: (1) 3×30 s static stretches of the hamstring muscles, (2) 3×30 s bouts of vibration applied to the hamstring muscles, (3) a combination of the stretching and vibration protocols. Setting The study was conducted in the muscle performance laboratory of Auckland University of Technology. Participants Ten male participants (mean±SD, age 22.7±3.6 yr, height 181.2±6.51 cm, mass 84.9±12.3 kg) with no musculoskeletal problems volunteered to participate in this study. Main outcome measures Dynamic knee joint ROM and jump height. Results The only increase in dynamic knee joint ROM was between the pre and immediate post assessments in the stretching intervention (mean change 3° or 2%, ES=0.4, p =0.011). There was no statistically significant interaction between intervention and time for any of the jump performance assessments. Conclusions A single bout of stretching produced a small, short-lived change in dynamic knee joint ROM but did not change jump performance. The addition of vibration alone or in combination with stretching did not influence dynamic knee joint ROM or jump performance.