Stretching Techniques of Knee Muscles and Their Effect on Joint Range, Suppleness and Muscle Activity in Elderly

NCT ID: NCT05785416

Last Updated: 2023-03-27

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2018-03-01
• Study Completion Date: 2019-01-24

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial was to compare the effect of two different types of stretching techniques in elderly population. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. What is the immediate effect (after a single intervention) of these stretching techniques on muscle flexibility, amount of knee joint motion and muscle activity?

2. What is the effect of a four week intervention program of these stretching techniques on muscle flexibility, amount of knee joint motion and muscle activity? There were three groups with ten randomly allocated participants in each group. Intervention group I was given a stretching technique called contract-relax technique and the Intervention group II was given static stretching. The third group was not given any treatment and was taken as a control. The main aim was to find out that whether the two techniques are effective or not and which one of the two is better than the other in terms of improvement in the above mentioned parameters.

Detailed Description

The objective of the study was to compare the effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation - Contract Relax (PNF- CR) and static stretch techniques immediately and post four weeks of intervention on knee range of motion, flexibility and electromyographic activity of knee muscles among older adults. This is an outcome assessor-blinded pre-test post-test randomized controlled trial with two experimental groups (PNF-CR and Static Stretching) and a control group. 30 males aged 55-75 years were randomly assigned into PNF group (n=10), Static Stretch group (n=10) and Control group (n=10). Knee range of motion, electromyographic activity of hamstrings and sit and reach test, were taken for the dominant side thrice: pre-intervention, immediately after stretching and after the training period. Active knee range of motion (ROM) was assessed using a universal goniometer. Surface Electromyography (EMG) was used to record Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of biceps femoris and the Chair Sit-and-Reach Test (CART) was used to assess the hamstring muscle's length flexibility.

Conditions

Muscle Tightness; Muscle Weakness

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

PNF- CR Group

The participants in the group were given PNF contract- relax stretching using the standard protocol. One trial had two isometric contractions each followed by five seconds muscle stretch and there was a total of four trials. Total of 12 sessions in 4 weeks (3sessions/week).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Stretching - Contract Relax stretching (PNF-CR)

Intervention Type: OTHER

PNF-CR utilized the concept of autogenic inhibition of the muscle for improving the flexibility of the muscle. It includes stretching a muscle after a brief period of activation.

Static Stretching Group

The participants in the group were given sustained stretching for a period of 80s at a stretch.

Total of 12 sessions in 4 weeks (3sessions/week).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Static Stretching (SS)

Intervention Type: OTHER

The SS technique utilized the concept of creep for improving the hamstring flexibility. The stretch was maintained for a prolonged period passively by the therapist.

Control Group

No intervention was given in this group

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Stretching - Contract Relax stretching (PNF-CR)

PNF-CR utilized the concept of autogenic inhibition of the muscle for improving the flexibility of the muscle. It includes stretching a muscle after a brief period of activation.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Static Stretching (SS)

The SS technique utilized the concept of creep for improving the hamstring flexibility. The stretch was maintained for a prolonged period passively by the therapist.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Male adults aged between 55 and 75 years
• Able to do activities of daily living (ADL) without assistance
• Able to comprehend and follow instructions

Exclusion Criteria

• Grade III or IV osteoarthritis or any other musculoskeletal condition affecting the muscle length.
• History of any surgery to hip, knee, low back or ankle
• History of any medication (anti-inflammatory, for pain relief, or anti-arthritic) in previous six months
• History of life-threatening disease (neurological disease, cardiovascular disease, severe hypertension)
• Passive full knee extension (popliteal angle 180 degrees)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 55 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 75 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Jamia Millia Islamia

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Deepak Malhotra

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Deepak Malhotra

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Sahar Zaidi, MPT

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Jamia Millia Islamia

Locations

Out Patient Department, Centre for Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia

New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi, India

Countries

India

Other Identifiers

16/9/121/JMI/IEC/2017

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id