Search

The purpose of the present study was to verify the influence of lower limb dominance and physical activity (PA) levels on flexibility in healthy young subject. Ninety-nine university students (46 males and 53 females) volunteered for this study. Hip flexion range of motion (ROM) during the passive straight leg raise test was used to estimate lower limb flexibility. PA levels were determined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). The dominant limb of the subjects with high PA levels had higher flexibility values than the dominant and non-dominant limb of the subjects with low PA levels (p = 0.026 and p = 0.011, respectively) and the non-dominant limb of the subjects with moderate PA levels (p = 0.038). Thus, this investigation shows that lower limb dominance and PA levels have an influence on the flexibility. High flexibility values were observed in the dominant limb of the subjects with high PA levels. Therefore, this information may be useful when planning injury prevention or rehabilitation protocols for subjects with different PA levels and lower limb flexibility asymmetries. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a influência da dominância dos membros inferiores e dos níveis de atividade física (AF) na flexibilidade em sujeitos jovens e saudáveis. Noventa e nove estudantes universitários (46 homens e 53 mulheres) voluntariaram-se para este estudo transversal. A amplitude de movimento (ADM) de flexão do quadril durante o teste passivo de elevação da perna reta foi medida para estimar a flexibilidade dos membros inferiores. Os níveis de AF foram aferidos pela versão curta do Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física (IPAQ-SF). O membro dominante dos sujeitos com alto nível de AF apresentou maior valor de flexibilidade do que o membro dominante e não dominante dos sujeitos com baixo nível de AF (p = 0,026 e p = 0,011, respectivamente) e do que o membro não dominante dos sujeitos com moderado nível de AF (p = 0,038). Assim, este estudo demonstrou que a dominância do membro inferior e o nível de AF influenciam nos valores de flexibilidade. Maiores valores de flexibilidade foram observados na perna dominante dos sujeitos com alto nível de AF. Desta forma, esta informação pode ser relevante para o planejamento de protocolos de prevenção de lesões ou de reabilitação em indivíduos com níveis distintos de AF e assimetrias de flexibilidade nos membros inferiores.

Objectives: The aim and rationale of our study was to determine the acute effect of kinesio taping on theextensibility of the hamstring muscle among university students.Design: An intra-subject experimental design was used to evaluate the possible acute effects of KT using the Xshapedtaping technique in order to affect hamstring muscle extensibility.Method: Forty-three healthy university students (age 21.98 ± 4.68 years, body mass 71.50 ± 13.49 kg, height172.35 ± 8.17 cm) were assessed for hamstring flexibility. All participants had both legs tested under threedifferent randomly ordered conditions (kinesio tape, sham tape and control) using the Passive Straight Leg RaiseTest. All measurements were made during the same testing session. Participants performed three sets of tests,each set measured twice, to determine hamstring extensibility in both legs. There was a 12 minute rest periodbetween each set and a one minute break between each repetition.Results: An analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements showed no statistically significantdifferences either in the right (p=0.503) or the left leg (p=0.948) between the three study conditions.Conclusions: The application of kinesio taping does not seem to acutely increase hip flexion range of motion inhealthy subjects.