Biomechanical Response to Acute Stretching in Dancers and Non-Dancers

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the bio- mechanical response of the hamstring muscles to acute stretching in dancers (D) compared to non-dancers (ND). Maximal range of motion (ROM_Max) and stiffness of the hamstrings were assessed in 46 young males, 23 undergraduate students (ND) and 23 professional dancers (D). Ages of the two groups were D 21.5 ± 0.60 years; ND 27.5 ± 0.98 years). Testing was performed in two sessions, familiarization with procedures in the first session and the tests themselves (pre- and post-test and intervention) in the second, with a 24- to 48-hour interval between. The pre-test consisted of three trials of passive knee extension to the point of increased tension in the hamstrings, defined as ROM_Max. The resistance torque recorded at ROM_Max was defined as torque_Max. Six 30-second constant torque stretches were performed at 100% of the torque_Maxreached in the pre-test in one lower limb only (intervention), with the contralateral limb used as control. The torque measured at an identical ROM before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the intervention was defined as torque_ROM, and represented stiffness in this study. Reliability of the ROM_Max, torque_Max, and torque_ROMwas assessed via intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC3, k) and standard error of the measurements (SEM). Comparison between dancers and non-dancers, control, and intervention conditions for all dependent variables was performed using ANOVA repeated measures followed by Tukey post hoc comparisons to highlight any interaction. The submaximal stretch intensity applied caused torque_ROM to decrease in both D and ND groups (p < 0.01), indicating a decrease in stiffness, but no difference between the groups was found. A significantly greater increase in ROM_Max was found for the D group compared to the ND group (p < 0.01), suggesting that other aspects in addition to MTU biomechanical adaptations may have played a role in the ROM_Max increase, especially for the D group. Further research is needed to explore what those other adaptations are. Meanwhile, coaches and physical therapists should be aware that dancers may require different stretch training protocols than non-dancers.