Acute Effects of Static Stretching on Handgrip Strength and Wrist Joint Flexibility in Physically Active Older Women.

Background/objective: The muscle strength and flexibility responses to stretching in older adults are unclear. We aimed to examine the acute effects of static stretching on handgrip strength and wrist joint flexibility in older women.

Methods: Twenty physically active older women (68 ± 6 years) performed handgrip contractions and wrist joint flexibility assessments before and after a control condition (quiet resting) and an experimental condition of static stretching for 30 s. Peak force and rate of force development variables were obtained from each contraction. Wrist joint range of motion was determined from the flexibility assessments.

Results: There were no significant changes in handgrip peak force or rate of force development variables after the stretching treatment (p = .11-.88). There was, however, a significant stretch-induced increase in wrist joint range of motion (p < .01).

Conclusion: These findings indicate that a 30-s bout of static stretching may be an effective intervention for increasing wrist joint flexibility without decreasing handgrip strength. Significance/Implications: The results of our study may have important implications for creating stretching interventions that can be used as part of a warm-up routine to help attenuate the negative effects of age on range of motion. Such interventions may be beneficial for improving functional performance and reducing the risk of injury in older populations.