Flexibility Retention 3 Weeks After a 5-Day Training Regime

Objective: To determine the retention of flexibility 25 days after 5 days of three 30second stretches. Design: A 2 x 4 repeated-measures factorial. Treatment and time were independent variables. The dependent variable was flexibility as measured by a sit-and-reach box. Measurements: 33 college students were tested before and after stretching for 5 consecutive days and without stretching on days 8 and 30. Control subjects were prone for 15 minutes; stretch subjects received 15 min of diathermy or sham diathermy and then performed three 30-second standing right-hamstring stretches. Results: Flexibility was greater on days 5, 8, and 30 than day 1, but days 5, 8, and 30 were not different from each other. Conclusion: Gains in flexibility are retained for at least 3 weeks after a stretching program. It also appears that 2 sets of 3 repetitions of a sit-and-reach test is sufficient stimulus to induce long-term flexibility gains.