Date of Award

5-1-2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Kinesiology & Public Health Education

Abstract

Until recently, research suggested that post-exercise stretching may reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in those who exercise; however, newer research indicates that stretching has no effect on DOMS. However, it appears that the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on preventing DOMS has not been adequately studied. The primary purpose of the study was to research the effect of PNF stretching on DOMS. The secondary purpose was to evaluate if one’s level of flexibility had a correlation with high levels of DOMS. The study was a posttest-only control group design. Participants were randomly assigned into a stretching group (PNF, static, control) after performing a DOMS inducing exercise. Participants then rated their soreness level on a pain scale (range 1-6) 24 and 48 (plus or minus 2 hours) hours after the DOMS inducing exercise. Flexibility also was measured to see if the participants, muscle range was correlated to DOMS. The main result showed that there was no difference between PNF stretching and reduced pain scores. Other results showed that there was a correlation between the 48 hour post-exercise pain score and pre-post flexibility change in the PNF stretch group (p< .01), a correlation between the 48 hour post-exercise pain score and pre-exercise stretch score overall (p< .05), and a correlation between the 48 hour post-exercise pain score and the post-exercise stretch score overall (p< .05). The results suggest that PNF stretches may have possibly placed a load on an already damaged muscle causing more strain on the trained muscle. Suggestions for future research include a prolonged study similar to this, assess ones DOMS level by using biochemical markers, or use of vibration platform training with a stretching protocol.

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