These effects of stretching prominently appear to affect stretch tolerance with no changes in the viscoelastic properties of the muscle (Halbertsma & Göeken, 1994) (Magnusson, Simonsen, Aagaard, Sørensen, & Kjaer, 1996). The mechanism for increased performance following chronic stretching is believed to be related to stretch-induced hypertrophy, which is discussed more when examining the adaption mechanisms.
Adaptation Mechanisms The adaptation mechanisms of acute and chronic stretching are important in determining the effects stretching has on strength performance. The primary adaptions due to stretching occur through neurological, structural, cellular, and hormonal mechanisms. However, literature is rather inconclusive in which mechanisms, and to what degree the mechanism has been altering strength performance.
Neurological Adaptations The effects of stretching on strength performance has been tried to be related to neurological mechanisms. Several chronic studies have claimed that improvements in flexibility in performance are related to a greater tolerance to stretch (Halbertsma & Göeken, 1994) (Magnusson, Simonsen, Aagaard, Sørensen, & Kjaer, 1996) (Halbertsma, Bolhuis, & Göeken, 1996). These reductions in sensitivity to stretch increase the activation threshold of the muscle, tendon, joint receptors, and nociceptors, but are fundamental mechanism for the protections of structures involved in movement. These reductions theoretically allow for greater forces and …show more content…
It has been suggested that strains as little as 20% on resting fiber length and cause damage, resulting in decreases in force production (Macpherson, Schork, & Faulkner, 1996). A study found that an acute bout of stretching 5% beyond resting length resulted in approximately a 5% decline in isometric force immediately following stretching (Black & Stevens,
Adaptation Mechanisms The adaptation mechanisms of acute and chronic stretching are important in determining the effects stretching has on strength performance. The primary adaptions due to stretching occur through neurological, structural, cellular, and hormonal mechanisms. However, literature is rather inconclusive in which mechanisms, and to what degree the mechanism has been altering strength performance.
Neurological Adaptations The effects of stretching on strength performance has been tried to be related to neurological mechanisms. Several chronic studies have claimed that improvements in flexibility in performance are related to a greater tolerance to stretch (Halbertsma & Göeken, 1994) (Magnusson, Simonsen, Aagaard, Sørensen, & Kjaer, 1996) (Halbertsma, Bolhuis, & Göeken, 1996). These reductions in sensitivity to stretch increase the activation threshold of the muscle, tendon, joint receptors, and nociceptors, but are fundamental mechanism for the protections of structures involved in movement. These reductions theoretically allow for greater forces and …show more content…
It has been suggested that strains as little as 20% on resting fiber length and cause damage, resulting in decreases in force production (Macpherson, Schork, & Faulkner, 1996). A study found that an acute bout of stretching 5% beyond resting length resulted in approximately a 5% decline in isometric force immediately following stretching (Black & Stevens,