Abstract

Background

Stretching is a method of treatment and it is part of the training of many professionals and amateurs sportsmen. Among MF contact diathermy claims there is the capability to perform deep tissues heating and to promote muscular tissues plasticity.

Purpose of the Study

Aim of this test has been the evaluation of the association between physical therapy and active exercise to induce stiffness reduction and to increase muscle length.

The Test

63 subjects were subjected to a single treatment of active stretching for the rectus femoris in prone position. A capacitive diathermy treatment was applied for 20 minutes on one randomly chosen leg while intermittent active dynamic stretching was performed bilaterally for the last 10 minutes. A total of 126 limbs were evaluated by the same therapist using standard knee flexion control methods to assess both muscular stiffness and muscle length of the rectus femoris before the treatment session, immediately after and 24 hours later.

Results

The results of our investigation (63 combined stretching-and-diathermy and 63 stretching alone) show a remarkably greater increase of the measured angles – both in the stiffness and in the muscle length evaluation – in the limb treated with combined diathermy and stretching than in the contralateral one that did receive stretching only. Such differences were found to be highly significant. The beneficial effect was observed to expand at 24 hours. Attempts of further sub- grouping according to sex, size, body structure, intensity of physical activity although confirming beneficial effects did not reach T-test significant values.