Rev Bras Fisiol Exerc 2021;20(2):164-75
doi: 10.33233/rbfex.v20i2.4146
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Effect of static stretching pre-pliometric
exercise on indirect markers of muscle damage
Efeito
do alongamento estático pré-exercício pliométrico sobre marcadores indiretos de danos musculares
Geovani
Alves dos Santos1,2, Sérgio Rodrigues Moreira2, Danilo
França Conceição dos Santos3, Fabiana Rodrigues Santos4,
Francisco Teixeira-Coelho3
1Faculdade UNINASSAU Petrolina,
Petrolina, PE, Brazil
2Universidade Federal do Vale do São
Francisco, Petrolina, PE, Brazil
3Universidade Federal do Triângulo
Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
4Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da
Bahia, Amargosa, BA, Brazil
Received:
May 20, 2020; Accepted: October
1, 2020.
Correspondence: Geovani Alves dos Santos, UNIVASF – CEFIS, Campus
Petrolina, Av. José de Sá Maniçoba, S/N Centro 56304-917 Petrolina PE, Brazil
Geovani Alves dos Santos: tccgeovani@gmail.com
Sérgio Rodrigues Moreira: serginhocapo@gmail.com
Danilo França Conceição dos Santos: daniloed2015@gmail.com
Fabiana Rodrigues Santos: fabiana@ufrb.edu.br
Francisco Teixeira-Coelho: coelhoft@gmail.com
Abstract
Introduction: Static
stretching is commonly used as part of routine exercise preparation, however,
its influence on inhibition and/or reduction of muscle damage caused by
eccentric exercise is still controversial. Aim: To analyze the effect of
the use of a static stretching protocol with duration of 5 min (5 x 60 s)
pre-exercise on the response of creatine kinase concentration ([CK]) and
delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) 24 and 48 hours after plyometric jumping
exercise. Methods: This is a counter-balanced quasi-experimental study
of repeated measures and the sample consisted of ten healthy volunteers who
underwent two experimental sessions: 1) without pre-exercise stretching
(control); 2) with static stretching prior to exercise (static stretching). In
both sessions the participants underwent a plyometric jumping exercise to
induce muscle damage. Prior to the experimental sessions and 24- and 48-hours
post-exercise the [CK] was measured, as well as DOMS 24- and 48-hours
post-exercise. Results: There was no significant difference for [CK] and
DMIT when compared to the experimental sessions, control
and static stretching, (p > 0.05). In addition, both had peak [CK] 24 hours
post-exercise, and DMIT was classified as irritant for both sessions. Conclusion:
The protocol of static stretching with a duration of five minutes (5 x 60s)
prior to the exercise of plyometric jumps did not generate minimization or
inhibition of muscle damage associated with the eccentric actions evaluated by
[CK] and DMIT.
Keywords: muscle stretching exercises;
exercise; creatine kinase.
Resumo
Introdução: O alongamento estático é comumente
utilizado como parte da rotina de preparação para o exercício físico, no
entanto ainda é controversa a sua influência sobre a inibição e ou redução dos
danos musculares ocasionados pelo exercício excêntrico. Objetivo:
Analisar o efeito do uso de um protocolo de alongamento estático com duração de
5 min (5 x 60 s) pré-exercício na resposta da
concentração de creatina quinase ([CK]) e dor muscular de início tardio (DMIT)
24 e 48 horas após exercício de saltos pliométricos. Métodos:
Trata-se de um estudo quase-experimental contrabalanceado de medidas repetidas
e a amostra foi composta por 10 voluntários saudáveis que foram submetidos a
duas sessões experimentais: 1) sem alongamento prévio ao exercício (controle)
e; 2) com alongamento estático prévio ao exercício (alongamento estático). Em
ambas as sessões os participantes foram submetidos a um exercício de saltos pliométricos para indução de dano muscular. Previamente às
sessões experimentais e 24 e 48 horas pós-exercício foi mensurada a [CK], bem
como a DMIT 24 e 48 horas pós-exercício. Resultados: Não houve diferença
significativa para [CK] e DMIT quando comparadas as sessões experimentais,
controle e alongamento estático, (p > 0,05). Além disso, ambas obtiveram pico
da [CK] 24 horas pós-exercício, e a DMIT foi classificada como irritante para
ambas as sessões. Conclusão: O protocolo de alongamento estático com
duração de cinco minutos (5 x 60s) prévio ao exercício de saltos pliométricos não minimizou ou inibiu os danos musculares
associados às ações excêntricas avaliadas pela [CK] e DMIT.
Palavras-chave: exercícios de alongamento muscular;
exercício físico; creatina quinase.
Muscle lesion
affection is one of the major factors of interference to the continuity of a
physical training program [1]. Muscle stretching, until these days used as part
of the routine of preparation for physical exercise, is taken as a strategy to
prevent muscle lesions in physical training programs for sports performance, or
even previously to recreational practice [2,3].
Different
stretching methods can be used in order to prepare the
muscles for physical exercise, such as static, dynamic stretching and
proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation [4,5]; moreover, the first two
methods can be performed either actively or passively [6,7]. Static stretching
is highlighted mainly because it is easy to perform and is usually part of the
preparation strategies for physical exercise [7]. However, the effectiveness of
static stretching prior to exercise in preventing muscle injuries is still
controversial [3].
The main
divergences between the researchers are the duration period for each stretching
technique, the control of the correct position by the volunteer during the stretching,
and the performance or not of muscle warm-up prior to stretching [3,8]. It is
believed that the short duration of the technique performed (15, 20, 30, 45s)
may not be enough to decrease passive resistance, as well as periods of total
stretching of 1.5 and 2 min (2 x 45 and 4 x 30 s, respectively) also seem
inefficient [8]. Nevertheless, periods of 5 and 6 min (5 x 60 and 4 x 90 s,
respectively) significantly reduce passive resistance and have their effect
prolonged for about 10 min after stretching session, which suggests a possible
preventive effect of muscle damage [9].
In addition,
investigations of the effect of static stretching on the occurrence of muscle
damage have used damage induction protocols from eccentric actions in isolated
movements, such as isokinetic devices [10]. However, in the practice of daily
sports training exercises for performance or recreational level, it is unlikely
that subjects will be exposed to this type of exercise. In this way, the
investigation of static stretching prior to exercises with eccentric actions similar to those performed during daily training is still
little explored.
On the other
hand, plyometric jumping exercises are widely used in training routines to
increase the production of muscle strength from the induction of muscle damage
[11,12,13]. During eccentric actions, such as with counter-movement jumps, there
is a greater propensity to induce muscle damage, due to the increased time on
tension generating a greater overload imposed on muscle fiber, causing the
extravasation of enzymes, among them creatine kinase ([CK]), from the
intracellular medium, to the bloodstream and reflected in the increase in serum
concentration in subsequent days, with a peak occurring between 24 and 48 hours
after physical demand [14,15,16].
Muscle damage
also directly interferes with the sensation of muscle pain in the days after
exercise [17], an effect known as delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which
also presents a peak variation between 24-48 hours post-exercise [18,19,20]. The
increase in serum [CK] concentration and DOMS are indirect markers of muscle
damage [21,22,23], and can be considered easy to assess
and have useful practical application, since they make it possible to estimate
muscle damage without the need for muscle biopsy techniques after exercise,
which are costly and invasive to the subject. Therefore, the aim of the present
study was to verify the effect of a pre-exercise static stretching protocol on
the response of [CK] and DOMS after plyometric jumping exercise.
Experimental design
This is a
quasi-experimental study balanced with repeated measures and the sample was
composed of ten healthy volunteers who underwent two experimental sessions,
being: 1) without stretching prior to exercise (control) and 2) with static
stretching prior to exercise (static stretching). A minimum interval of one
week was respected between sessions, which were always held at the same time of
the day. Both sessions were developed in the laboratory (25 ± 3°C at room
temperature and 51 ± 2% relative humidity). The displacement of volunteers to
the research location was standardized. One week before the experimental
sessions, an anthropometric evaluation of each volunteer was carried out, as
well as familiarization with the test procedures and anchoring to the
psychometric scales of rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and visual analog
scale (VAS), to assess the perceived effort and DOMS, respectively.
The tasks
performed in each of the experimental sessions are shown in Figure 1 and
followed the following order: when the volunteer arrived at the laboratory, he
remained at rest for ten minutes. Subsequently the CK concentration ([CK]) and
blood lactate concentration were measured ([Lac]), then according to the
counterbalance of the sessions, the volunteers performed a static stretching
session of the quadriceps femoris and hamstrings (5 sets of 60 s) or remained
at rest, sitting for ten minutes prior to the plyometric jumps. Heart rate (HR)
was recorded constantly throughout the session. After performing the last
series of plyometric jumps, [LAC] and RPE were recorded and, 24 and 48 hours
after the jumping protocol, the volunteers returned to the laboratory for
evaluation of [CK] and DOMS.
[CK] = Creatine kinase
concentration, [Lac] = Blood lactate concentration, HR = Heart rate, RPE =
Rating of perceived exertion, DOMS = Delayed-onset muscle soreness
Figure 1 - Experimental design
Participants
Ten male
university students volunteers (23.9 ± 3.8 years of
age; 73.9 ± 8.6 kg; 176.4 ± 5.2 cm; 14.9 ± 3.4% fat) were recruited, selected
according to the following inclusion criteria: 1) male; 2) between 18 and 30
years old; 3) physically inactive (not practicing systematic physical activity
for at least two or more days a week) and; 4) have little or no experience with
strength training and activities that involve jumping.
After agreeing
to participate on a voluntary basis, they signed an informed consent form in
accordance with the guidelines established by the National Health Council
(Res.466/12) involving research with human beings. While participating in the
study, they were asked to avoid vigorous or unusual activities, use of
medication, dietary supplementation and alcohol. This
study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal do Recôncavo
da Bahia (number 1,577,899).
To estimate the
sample size, a previous study was used, in which changes in [CK] were compared
after inducing muscle damage in knee flexors and extensors [10]. Based on the
eta-square of 0.681 for the difference in [CK] up to 2 days after muscle damage
induction protocol, with an alpha level of 0.05 and a power (1 - β) of 0.80 (G * Power 3.1.9.2; Heinrich - Heine - Universitat Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany; http://www.gpower.hhu.de/) showed that at least four participants were required for the
present study.
Stretching
protocol
The volunteers
were submitted to a static stretching protocol of the quadriceps femoris and
hamstrings in the static stretching session or remained at rest for 10 min
during the control session. To stretch the quadriceps, the volunteers lay in
prone position and had their knees flexed by the researcher to a position of
mild discomfort that was indicated by the participant himself (Figure 2A). Five
repetitions were performed with periods of 60 seconds in duration and 10
seconds of interval between them. Following the same protocol regarding
repetitions and duration, for stretching the hamstring muscles, the volunteer
standing and with the upper limbs hanging in front of the lower limbs by flexing
the hip to a position of mild discomfort in the posterior thigh muscles (Figure
2B).
Figure 2 - Quadriceps (2A) and hamstring
(2B) stretching exercise
Muscle damage induction protocol
The protocol of
plyometric jumps aimed to induce eccentric actions in the muscles of the lower
limbs. The volunteers performed 5 sets of 20 deep jumps with a 10-second
interval between jumps (to get back up on the platform) and 2 minutes of
passive rest between sets [16]. The jumps started on a 60 cm high platform,
with the participant keeping their hands on their hips throughout the movement.
The volunteers fell off the platform and, immediately after landing on the
ground, performed a quick knee flexion (approximately 90°) followed by a new
jump to reach the highest possible height (Figures 3A, 2B and 2C). To climb the
platform, a 30 cm high step was used. The interval time between jumps was
controlled by an evaluator and the subjects were encouraged to jump as high as
possible during the entire session.
Figure 3 - Jump exercise with counter
movement (2A, 2B and 2C). Start position of the jump (2A), landing (2B) and
jump after landing (2C) protocol
Assessment of CK and Lac concentrations
After arriving
at the laboratory, the volunteers remained at rest for ten minutes to assess
[CK] and [Lac] before exercise. There was asepsis with alcohol from the
volunteer's right index finger and, using a disposable lancet, a small hole was
made from which two blood samples were taken. After discarding the first drop,
10 µL were used to assess [Lac] by reflectance photometry on Accutrendr® Plus (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) and 30 µL to
analyze [CK] also by reflectance photometry using Reflotron®
Plus (Roche Diagnostics, Germany), both devices properly calibrated. In both
situations, the samples were placed in specific reagent strips for each
equipment. [Lac] was evaluated again at the end of the muscle damage induction
protocol and [CK] also at 24 and 48 hours after the session.
Monitoring exercise intensity
HR was monitored
every five seconds throughout the session. The values for rest and the end of
each series of the plyometric jumping protocol were recorded (Polar RC3 GPS HR
- Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland). Immediately
after the last series of jumps, RPE was also recorded on the 6 to 20 Borg scale
[24].
DOMS Assessment
The DOMS
assessment took place 24 and 48 hours after exercise, subsequently measured by
[CK]. The level of muscle pain perceived in the quadriceps was assessed from
the sensation of pain in an eccentric action (movement of squatting slowly
until approximately a 90º angle of knee flexion and returning to the initial
position) [20,25,26]. The volunteer indicated which level of muscle pain he was
feeling from a visual analog scale with a score from 0 to 10, with 0 being
nothing; 2 discomfort; 4 irritating; 6 horrible; 8 terrible and 10 agonizing
[12].
Statistical analysis
All data were
submitted to the Shapiro-Wilk test to verify normality. Normally distributed
data were expressed as mean values ± standard deviation (SD) and non-parametric
data were expressed as medians and quartiles. HR was analyzed through analysis
of variance (ANOVA) with two variation factors (time and experimental group)
with repeated measures for the time factor, followed by the Bonferroni post hoc
test to identify the pairs of difference. To compare the behavior of [CK]
between sessions and as a function of time, the Friedman test was used,
followed by the Wilcoxon test. The same was adopted for DOMS. PSE was compared
between sessions using the Wilcoxon test. The level of significance was set at
p < 0.05 and the statistical software used was SPSS 22.0 (SPSS, Inc.,
Chicago, IL). The effect size (r) for nonparametric comparisons from the
Wilcoxon test was calculated according to Pallant
[25], in which the z value was divided by the square root of N, where N was the
number of observations (20 in each comparation). The effect size was classified
using the Cohen criteria [27], with 0.2 = small effect, 0.5 = medium effect and
0.8 = wide effect.
The Wilcoxon
test revealed a significant increase in [CK] for participants in the control
situation (z = -2.29; p = 0.02) with a medium effect (r = 0.51); similar
behavior was also observed when the subjects performed static stretching prior
to the jumping protocol (z = -2.29; p = 0.02; r = 0.51 medium effect). There
was also a reduction in [CK] when comparing the 24 and 48 h post induction of
muscle damage for the control situation (z = -2.19; p = 0.02, r = 0.49 small
effect size) as for the static stretching session (z = -2.70; p <0.01; r =
0.60 medium effect). In both sessions, [CK] showed a similar behavior with a
peak 24 hours after the plyometric jumping protocol (Table I).
DOMS was
classified as irritant 24 and 48 hours after plyometric jumping protocol for
both sessions. No significant difference was observed between the 24 and 48
hours or between the control and static stretching sessions (Table I).
Table I - Effect of the plyometric
jumping protocol on the concentration of creatine kinase (U / L) and
delayed-onset muscle soreness (points) 24 h and 48 h after protocol
CK = Creatine kinase
concentration, DOMS = delayed-onset muscle soreness; * P < 0.05 in relation
to the Pre moment of the same session; # P < 0.05 in relation to the 24h
moment of the same session
The exercise of
plyometric jumps induced a significant increase (z = -2.29; p 0.03, r = 0.51
medium effect) of [Lac] when comparing the pre and post moments in the control
situation [Pre = 1.8 (1.8 - 2.2 mM) vs. Post = 2.4 (2.1 - 3.9 mM)]. In
addition, there was a similar increase in [Lac] in the static stretching situation
Pre = 1.9 (1.8 - 2.3 mM) vs. Post = 2.7 (2.1 - 3.9 mM), z = -2.09; P = 0.02; r
= 0.47 small effect (Figure 4a). Due to the similarity of the lactacidemic response, no difference was found when
comparing the experimental situations, control and static
stretching.
* P < 0.05 in
relation to the Pre
Figure 4 - a) concentration of blood
lactate ([Lac]) Pre and Post exercise of plyometric jumps, b) rating of
perceived exertion (RPE) post exercise of plyometric jumps, c) heart rate (HR)
Pre and at the end of each stage of plyometric jumps
The RPE of the
volunteers did not differ between experimental sessions [control = 15.5 (14 -
17 points) vs. static stretching = 15.5 (13 - 17 points), P = 0.08]. The
jumping protocol inducing muscle damage was classified as “tiring” in both
sessions (Figure 4b).
As expected,
resting HR differed significantly for all stages of exercise (P < 0.01). A
plateau was observed throughout the five series of jumps in both experimental
sessions and the average HR for the control session was 142 ± 8 bpm and for
static stretching of 141 ± 6 bpm. In addition, no significant difference
occurred between sessions (P > 0.05) (Figure 4c).
The main finding
of this study was that the performance of static stretching lasting five min (5
x 60s) before exercise did not minimize the responses associated with the
induction of muscle damage promoted by the protocol of plyometric jumps,
assessed through the variables [CK] and DOMS.
This result can
be attributed to possible microlesions caused in muscle fibers, due to the
increase in time under tension induced by eccentric muscle actions, resulting
in possible ruptures, prolongations and/or enlargements located in the z lines
of the sarcomeres, resulting in a consequent leakage of [CK] to the blood flow,
however, damage to T tubules and myofibrils can also withstand the results
found [8,10,17]. Furthermore, possible damage to the myofibrillar structure,
greater protein degradation, autophagy and local inflammation with leukocyte
infiltration and accumulation in the region could explain DOMS [17,19].
The eccentric
exercise used in the present study was effective in inducing muscle damage,
with an increase [CK] in the days following its performance (Table I), an
effect also demonstrated by Miyama and Nosaka [16].
In addition, Ferreira-Junior et al. [20] identified that the referred
plyometric jumping protocol was able to induce muscle damage resulting in
increased perception of muscle pain in the days after exercise.
Both
methods of indirect assessment ([CK] and DOMS) of the appearance of muscle
damage are widely used, confirming their applicability in assessing the
response to damage caused by eccentric exercise [28,29]. In the present study,
the responses of [CK] and DOMS suggest that the protocol was similarly
effective in inducing muscle damage in the two compared sessions.
The similar
induction of muscle damage between the two experimental sessions, assessed by
varying the [CK] concentration and by DOMS, corroborates the findings of Smith
et al. [28], who observed that static stretching prior to eccentric exercise
was not able to mitigate muscle damage assessed by [CK]. However, the results
of the present study contradict the findings of Chen et al. [2], methodological
differences between the studies may explain the divergence in the results,
mainly the profile of the volunteers and the protocols of stretching and
eccentric exercise adopted.
The study by
Chen et al. [2] used a protocol of maximum eccentric contractions
performed on an isokinetic dynamometer, while the present study used a protocol
with movements like the movements performed in training routines for physical
exercise practitioners. Another relevant issue to be highlighted in the study
by Chen et al. [2] was the use of five minutes of warm-up in the
stretching groups, which may have favored the observed effect of preventing
muscle damage, since it has been shown that muscle warm-up is effective in
preventing muscle damage [30,31].
The
ineffectiveness of static stretching prior to exercise has also been reported
in studies investigating exercise-induced DOMS sensation. High et al.
[32] used 2 sets of 50 seconds of stretching and Johansson et al. [33]
used 4 sets of 20 seconds with a 20-second interval and did not identify a
reduction in DOMS. It is possible that these stretching protocols have not been
effective in reducing DOMS. As, according to McHugh and Cosgrave [8],
approximately five minutes of static stretching are necessary to observe the
effects of reduction in the passive resistance presented by the muscle, an
effect which hypothetically could mediate the reduction in the induction of
muscle damage, as shown in chronic studies with the same duration [3]. However,
even respecting this minimum duration of static stretching, the present study
did not find a reduction in DOMS in the session with stretching prior to
exercise.
It is noteworthy
in the present study that the use of static stretching seeking to decrease
muscle stiffness in an acute way, did not differentiate the intensity of the
exercise in the two experimental situations. HR monitoring throughout the
jumping protocol demonstrated that in the control and static stretching
sessions the volunteers exercised at similar intensities, with no significant
difference. Furthermore, [Lac] and RPE's responses did not differ between the
two experimental sessions, which enables asserting that besides the external
load, the internal load of the jumping protocol (muscle damage inducer) was
similar between the experimental conditions.
Although no
volunteer reported having a limited range of hip flexion, one of the
limitations of the present study was the non-use of experimental sessions with:
a) only warm-up and, B) warm-up and stretching prior to the exercise of
plyometric jumps. Another limitation of our study was the failure to perform an
isolated stretch for the sural triceps, a muscle group also required during
plyometric jumps. However, given the limitations regarding the real
effectiveness of static stretching to reduce passive resistance and its
maintenance for a longer period than 10 min, we chose to perform only two
stretching exercises in the experimental design of the present study with a
focus on the largest muscle groups involved.
The static
stretching protocol lasting five minutes (5 x 60s) prior to the exercise of
plyometric jumps did not minimize or inhibit the muscle damage associated with
the eccentric actions evaluated by creatine kinase and delayed onset muscle
soreness.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the
Teacher Training Center of the Federal University of Recôncavo
da Bahia for supporting this study, contributing with space and research
materials.
Conflict of interest
No conflicts of
interest have been reported for this article.
Authors' contributions
Conception and design
of the research: Santos GA, Teixeira-Coelho F. Data collection: Santos DFC,
Santos FR, Santos GA. Statistical analysis and data
interpretation: Santos DFC, Santos GA, Teixeira-Coelho F. Writing of the
manuscript: Santos GAS, Moreira SR. Critical review of the manuscript:
Moreira SR, Santos FR. Final revision of the manuscript:
Santos FR, Teixeira-Coelho F.