Graduate Program

Kinesiology and Sports Studies

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2014

Thesis Director

Brian L. Pritschet

Thesis Committee Member

Stacey L. Ruholl

Thesis Committee Member

Mark S. Kattenbraker

Thesis Committee Member

Amber M. Shipherd

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a single bout of static stretching with and without whole body vibration on hip flexion range of motion in college age males. A second purpose was to determine whether any acute effects would persist after one hour of rest. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant increase from baseline to posttest hip range of motion with both static stretching only and static stretching with whole body vibration. Further, the improvement would be significantly greater with the addition of whole body vibration. It was also hypothesized that any positive effects would persist for at least one hour after a single bout of stretching in both groups with a greater retention of range of motion (ROM) being shown in the whole body vibration group.

Twenty-two collegiate males completed this study. Participants reported that they were untrained, defined as not participating in a consistent exercise routine within the previous six months. All of the participants were randomly assigned to either a static stretching only group (n=11) or the static stretching with whole-body vibration group (n=11). Baseline ROM measurements were conducted on both the right and left legs using a Leighton Flexometer following a five minute warm-up on a treadmill. Participants followed a static stretching protocol, depending on the group to which they were assigned. Immediately following completion of the stretches, the participants ROM was assessed. After one hour of rest, the participants ROM was assessed once more to determine if any changes in ROM persisted following one hour of rest. A mixed effects ANOVA was performed to determine if there was a significant difference between the right and left leg ROM measurements. After determining there was no significant difference between the right and left leg, the left leg was excluded from the analysis. Using only the right leg, a mixed effects ANOVA was performed comparing changes by group over the times tested. It was determined that there was no significant difference between the static stretching only group and the whole body vibration group over the three conditions with no significant interaction effect. The results also showed that there was a significant increase from pretest to posttest and a significant decrease from posttest to one hour posttest in ROM measurements. Although there was a decrease in ROM from immediate posttest to one hour posttest, the one hour post stretching values were significantly greater than the prestretching ROM. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the extent of these changes. It was concluded that the addition of whole body vibration to a bout of static stretching did not elicit a greater increase in hip flexion ROM over time than did static stretching alone.

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