Abstract

MAYORGA-VEGA, Daniel; MERINO-MARBAN, Rafael; REAL, Javier  and  VICIANA, Jesús. A physical education-based stretching program performed once a week also improves hamstring extensibility in schoolchildren: a clusterrandomized controlled trial. Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2015, vol.32, n.4, pp.1715-1721. ISSN 1699-5198.  https://dx.doi.org/10.3305/nh.2015.32.4.9302.

Introduction: physical education teachers are required to carry out intervention programs for students to achieve health-enhancing flexibility levels. Unfortunately, to our knowledge, there are no studies examining the effect of a stretching program carried out only once a week on schoolchildren. Objectives: the purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of a short-term stretching intervention program performed once and twice a week on hamstring extensibility among schoolchildren in the physical education setting. Methods: a sample of 180 high school students aged 12-14 years old was randomly assigned (by natural groups) to a control group, experimental group 1 and experimental group 2. During physical education classes, experimental group students performed a stretching program for eight weeks. The experimental group 1 and 2 performed the stretching program once and twice a week, respectively. Results: the analysis of variance results showed that the students of both experimental groups improved statistically significantly their hamstring extensibility when compared with the control group students (p < 0.01). Nevertheless, no statistically significant differences between the two experimental groups were found (p > 0.05). Conclusions: a short-term stretching program performed only once a week improves hamstring extensibility in schoolchildren. When the stretching program is performed twice a week, the improvement in students´ hamstring extensibility is not statistically higher.

Keywords : School; Range of motion; Static stretching; Physical fitness; Adolescents.

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