Effect of resistance training on flexibility in young adult men and women.

BACKGROUND: Flexibility is an important component of physical fitness. However, to date, there is no comparative study between men and women concerning the influence of resistance training (RT) on flexibility. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of RT on flexibility in young adult men and women. METHODS: Twenty-eight men and 30 women underwent progressive RT for 16 weeks, 3 times per week. Anthropometric and flexibility measurements were performed at pre-training, mid-training, and post-training. The flexibility measurements were obtained using a fleximeter. RESULTS: There was no significant sex by time interaction (P > 0.05) for any outcomes. Both sexes increased flexibility similarly from baseline to mid-training in shoulder extension (10.4-11.1%) and lateral trunk inclination (2.4-3.4%). Shoulder flexion increased at same magnitude in men and women from baseline to post-training (1.3-2.8%). Hip flexion and trunk flexion scores increased from baseline to mid-training (hip flexion = 3.7-3.9%, trunk flexion = 2.7%), however, a decrease was observed from mid- to post-training (hip flexion = -2.4 - -2.6%, trunk flexion = -1.4%) with values returning to baseline with no difference between men and women. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that regardless of sex, RT improves or at least preserves the flexibility of different joint movements in young adult men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]