Spanish Title: Efecto del estiramiento mantenido versus el estiramiento mantenido previa aplicación de ultrasonido sobre la extensibilidad de los músculos isquiotibiales en mujeres adultas

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effects of maintained stretch (MS) versus ultrasound (US) + MS on the extensibility of the hamstring muscles in adult women.
Methods: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial was conducted. Fourteen women (22.3 ± 3.9 years) were randomly assigned to two groups, MS (7 minutes) prior US (US + MS), n=8, and MS for 7 minutes, n=6. The differences between assessments were compared using the student’s t-test; the effect of the intervention was evaluated by analysis of covariance.
Results: There was a significantly increase in the flexibility of lower limbs in both groups. In the US + MS group increased -8.75 ± 5.5; while the increase in the MS group was -3.5 ± 2.7; when comparing the groups, no statistically significant differences were found. A statistically significant increase was found in the final measurements in the US + MS intervention group, -5.8 (95% CI: – 10.9; -0.67, p = 0.030) compared with the MS group adjusting only for baseline score.
Conclusion: A single exposure to US + MS is sufficient to enhance the gains in hamstring extensibility in adult women compared to MS.

Keywords: Ultrasound, stretching, flexibility, extensibility, physiotherapy.