Impact of static stretching on the gain in knee-extensor strength of community-dwelling older women after a training program.

BACKGROUND The decrease in muscle strength in older adults has an impact on functionality. Muscle strengthening programs have been proposed, however there is some controversy surrounding the effects of stretching prior to strengthening exercises on muscle strength gain. OBJECTIVE To verify the impact of static stretching on the gain in knee-extensor strength of community-dwelling elderly women after a training program. METHODS This was a quasi-experimental study that included a ten-week knee-extensor strengthening program and a final assessment of 12 community-dwelling elderly women divided into two groups: group SE - strengthening exercises with prior static stretching in all sessions, mean age 73.8 (± 5.36) years; and group E - same strengthening exercises as SE without prior stretching, mean age 72.14 (± 5.43) years. To measure knee-extensor strength gains, we used the isokinetic dynamometer Biodex System 3 Pro, in concentric mode at angular velocities of 60º and 180º/s, and for statistical analysis we used the difference between pre- and post-intervention means of work adjusted by body weight. RESULTS The data showed normality in the Shapiro-Wilk test (p > 0.266). When comparing the differences between the pre- and post-intervention means using the t test for independent samples, there was no significant difference in any of the limbs at the velocities evaluated (p>0.383). CONCLUSION Previous static stretching did not interfere in muscle strength gain following a ten-week muscle strengthening program in the population studied. Article registered in the ISRCTN register under number ISRCTN62824599.