Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42371069›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of applied physiology2026

Effect of 12-week dynamic stretching of hamstrings on joint flexibility and musculoskeletal properties.

Naoki Ikeda, Kazuya Hiratsuka, Takayuki Inami, Tadao Isaka

Abstract read
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Article in European journal of applied physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Naoki IkedaInstitute for General Education, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Japan. n-ikeda3@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6908-8504
Kazuya HiratsukaFaculty of Human Health Sciences , Hachinohe Gakuin University, Hachinohe, Japan.
Takayuki InamiInstitute of Physical Education, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan.
Tadao IsakaFaculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis study aimed to examine the effects of a 12‑week hamstrings dynamic stretching (DS) program on joint flexibility, muscle strength, and musculoskeletal properties in the stretched limb, with the non‑stretched limb assessed for comparison.

methodsThe study comprised 18 healthy young adults (12 males, 6 females) who performed hamstrings DS on one leg three times per week for 12 weeks, with the contralateral leg serving as the control. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included knee extension range of motion (KEROM), peak passive torque during KEROM (stretch tolerance), muscle stiffness, and knee flexor strength. Muscle stiffness was evaluated using shear-wave elastography targeting the biceps femoris (BF). Knee flexor strength was assessed using the rate of torque development (RTD) and isokinetic knee flexion torque.

resultsKEROM significantly increased in the DS condition (p = 0.025; d = 0.61), with no significant change in the control condition (p = 0.55; d = 0.15). Peak passive torque significantly increased following DS (p = 0.041; d = 0.68), with no change in the contralateral limb (p = 0.21; d = 0.21). BF stiffness significantly decreased in the DS condition and remained unchanged in the contralateral limb (70° knee flexion: DS, p < 0.01, d = 0.79; control, p = 0.30, d = 0.30; 50° knee flexion: DS, p = 0.044, d = 0.55; control, p = 0.18, d = 0.34. RTD and isokinetic knee flexion strength did not change significantly in either condition.

conclusionTwelve weeks of hamstrings DS enhanced stretch tolerance, reduced muscle stiffness, and improved joint flexibility in the stretched limb, with no notable changes observed in the contralateral limb.

trial registrationName of trial registry Effects of training and conditioning methods on mechanical properties of skeletal muscle Identifying number (URL) UMIN000051819 ( https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000058080 ) Date of registration 5th Aug 2023.

Indexed as

Hamstring MusclesKnee JointMuscle StrengthMuscle Stretching ExercisesRange of Motion, ArticularAdultFemaleHumansMaleTorqueYoung AdultElasticity and muscleElasticity imaging techniquesMuscle strengthMuscle stretching exercisesRange of motionStiffness

Identifiers

PMID42371069
PMCPMC13541896

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.