Chronic effect of the combinations of resistance exercises with static stretching exercises on flexibility levels in trained men

THE JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS June 2013 Therefore, both motor capacities should necessarily be included within any supervised training program.1 Performing stretching exercises alone seems to provoke significant chronic effects on strength performance.2, 3 Kokkonen et al.3 observed increases up to 31% on the performance of the 1RM tests, after performing static stretching for eight weeks. On the other hand, Rees et al.2 using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching technique, observed increases on the maximal isometric strength (26%) and on the rate of force development (25%) for the plantar flexors muscles. Conversely, LaRoche et al.4 using static and dynamic stretching exercises, observed minimal increases on the peak torque of the extensor muscles of the hip, but not significantly different from those of the control group who had not perform any exercise for four weeks. Studies with elderly of both genders have shown that the execution of isolated strength training (ST) causes significant increases on the flexibility of several joints. Barbosa et al.5 observed increases of nearly 13% in sedentary elderly when performing the sit and reach test after 10 weeks of ST. Similar results have been found by Fatouros et al.6 who observed significant increases on the flexibility, rang1Research Centre in Sport, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal 2University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal 3School of Physical Education and Sports Rio de Janeiro Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil J SPORTS MED PHYS FITNESS 2013;53(Suppl. 1 to No. 3):44-50