Acute Effects of Prolong Short-Duration Stretching in Lunge Position and Using Wedge Stretching on Gastrosoleus Extensibility in Women with Gastrosoleus Tightness เรียนรู้เพื่อรับใช้สังคม Chongsatientam A.*, Attatham W., Eamsum-ang W., Theamthong K., and Kuelsakul K. Faculty of Physical Therapy. Huachiew Chalermprakiet University * address: Abstract Tightness of calf muscles leads to many kinds of health problem such as knee pain, back pain and neck pain, etc. Stretching is the treatment solving method of tightness. Physical therapist will select the most effective stretching for their patient. For calf muscles tightness, there are 2 ways to stretching them, using wedge or using their own body weight stretching and lunge position stretching. However, there was still no clear finding on comparison results of these two methods of calf extensibility stretching. The purpose of this research was to study the acute effects of short duration stretching comparing between using wedge and lunge position stretching method on gastrosoleus extensibility in women with gastrosoleus tightness. Ten women with gastrosoleus tightness who wear high- heeled shoes at least 3 days a week for 6 months, ankle dorsiflexion AROM less than 20 degree and aged between years old were recruited to this study. Active range of ankle dorsiflexion were measured before, immediately, 24, 48 and 72 hours after short-duration stretching for 30 seconds. All subjects were randomly selected to stretch their calf of dominant leg by using wedge or lunge position stretching with the same level of stretch feeling scales (1-10 level). Both stretching was capable to increase AROM of ankle dorsiflexion after 30 seconds stretching and no significant different of ankle dorsiflexion range change when compared between stretching methods. Acute effects of both stretching methods can sustain at least 48 hours after single 30 seconds stretching. Key words : Short-duration stretching, Lunge position, Wedge stretching, Gastrosoleus tightness Rationale Many health problems were caused by calf tightness which leading to mal-alignment and uncommon weight distribution. Stretching, increasing calf extensibility, is the method to treat tightness. Both stretching methods, using wedge and lunge position, are common home program for calf tightness patient. But there was no clear evidence support and no comparing study between these stretching methods. Objective The aim of this recent research study was to examine the acute effects of short duration stretching comparison between the using wedge and lunge position stretching method on gastrosoleus extensibility in women with gastrosoleus tightness. Methodology Subject : Women with gastrosoleus tightness who wear high-heeled shoes 3 days a week for 6 months, AROM of ankle dorsiflexion less than 20 degrees and years old (N=10) Design : Statistical analysis : Data were analysed by using SPSS for window V The paired-t test were used to compare acute effects of stretching methods and examined prolonged effects of these stretching methods with p-value<0.05. Active ankle dorsiflexion ROM (pre-stretching) Randomly selected the wedge stretching or lunge position method for 30 seconds with the same stretch feeling scales (1-10 level) Active ankle dorsiflexion ROM (immediately, 24, 48 and 72 hours post-stretching) Results means significantly different when compare to pre-stretch Conclusion There are no significantly difference acute effect of prolong-short duration stretched for 30 seconds by lunge position stretching or wedge stretching method on gastrosoleus extensibility in women with gastrosoleus tightness. The acute effect of single 30 seconds stretching can last at least 48 hours after stretching. References 1.Draper DO. Immediate and Residual Changes in Dorsiflexion Range of Motion Using an Ultrasound Heat and Stretch Routine. Journal of Athletic Training; 1998; 33(2) : De Weijer VC and Gorniak GC. Effect of Static Stretch and Warm-up Exercise on Hamstring Length Over the Course of 24 hours. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther Dec; (12) : Bandy WD. The Effect of Time and Frequency of Static Stretching on Flexibility of the Hamstring Muscles. Physical Therapy. 1997: Lunge position Wedge stretching