Acute Effects of Prolong ShortDuration Stretching in Lunge Position and Using Wedge Stretching on Ga

1
Acute Effects of Prolong Short-Duration
Stretching in Lunge Position and Using Wedge
Stretching on Gastrosoleus Extensibility in Women
with Gastrosoleus Tightness
Chongsatientam A., Attatham W., Eamsum-ang W.,
Theamthong K., and Kuelsakul K.
Faculty of Physical Therapy.
Huachiew Chalermprakiet University

E-mail address yui_areeya_at_hotmail.com
Abstract Tightness of calf muscles leads to
many kinds of health problem such as knee pain,
back pain and neck pain , etc. Stretching is the
treatment solving method of tightness. Physical
therapist will select the most effective
stretching for their patient. For calf muscles
tightness, there are 2 ways to stretching them,
using wedge or using their own body weight
stretching and lunge position stretching.
However, there was still no clear finding on
comparison results of these two methods of calf
extensibility stretching. The purpose of this
research was to study the acute effects of short
duration stretching comparing between using wedge
and lunge position stretching method on
gastrosoleus extensibility in women with
gastrosoleus tightness. Ten women with
gastrosoleus tightness who wear high- heeled
shoes at least 3 days a week for 6 months, ankle
dorsiflexion AROM less than 20 degree and aged
between 18-25 years old were recruited to this
study. Active range of ankle dorsiflexion were
measured before, immediately, 24, 48 and 72 hours
after short-duration stretching for 30 seconds.
All subjects were randomly selected to stretch
their calf of dominant leg by using wedge or
lunge position stretching with the same level of
stretch feeling scales (1-10 level). Both
stretching was capable to increase AROM of
ankle dorsiflexion after 30 seconds stretching
and no significant different of ankle
dorsiflexion range change when compared between
stretching methods. Acute effects of both
stretching methods can sustain at least 48 hours
after single 30 seconds stretching. Key words
Short-duration stretching, Lunge position, Wedge
stretching, Gastrosoleus tightness
Rationale Many health problems were caused by
calf tightness which leading to mal-alignment
and uncommon weight distribution. Stretching,
increasing calf extensibility, is the method to
treat tightness. Both stretching methods, using
wedge and lunge position, are common home
program for calf tightness patient. But there
was no clear evidence support and no comparing
study between these stretching methods.
Results
Objective The aim of this recent research
study was to examine the acute effects of short
duration stretching comparison between the using
wedge and lunge position stretching method on
gastrosoleus extensibility in women with
gastrosoleus tightness.
means significantly different when compare to
pre-stretch
Methodology Subject Women with
gastrosoleus tightness who wear high-heeled
shoes 3 days a week for 6 months, AROM of ankle
dorsiflexion less than 20 degrees and 18-25
years old (N10) Design Stat
istical analysis Data were analysed by using
SPSS for window V.15.0. The paired-t test were
used to compare acute effects of stretching
methods and examined prolonged effects of these
stretching methods with p-valuelt0.05.
Active ankle dorsiflexion ROM (pre-stretching)
Randomly selected the wedge stretching or lunge
position method for 30 seconds with the same
stretch feeling scales (1-10 level)
Conclusion There are no significantly
difference acute effect of prolong-short duration
stretched for 30 seconds by lunge position
stretching or wedge stretching method on
gastrosoleus extensibility in women with
gastrosoleus tightness. The acute effect of
single 30 seconds stretching can last at least 48
hours after stretching.
Lunge position
Wedge stretching
Active ankle dorsiflexion ROM (immediately, 24,
48 and 72 hours post-stretching)

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