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Journal List > J Athl Train > v.36(1); Jan–Mar 2001

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J Athl Train. 2001 Jan–Mar; 36(1): 16–19.
PMCID: PMC155396
Copyright © by the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc
Effects of Hot or Cold Water Immersion and Modified Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Flexibility Exercise on Hamstring Length
Darren G. Burke,* Laurence E. Holt,corresponding author† Roy Rasmussen,* Natalie C. MacKinnon,† Jeffery F. Vossen,* and Thomas W. Pelham†
*St Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
†Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
corresponding authorCorresponding author.
Contributed by
Darren G. Burke, MSc, and Laurence E. Holt, PhD, contributed to conception and design; acquisition and analysis and interpretation of the data; and drafting, critical revision, and final approval of the article. Roy Rasmussen, PhD, contributed to conception and design; analysis and interpretation of the data; and drafting, critical revision, and final approval of the article. Natalie C. MacKinnon, BSc, and Jeffery F. Vossen, MSc, contributed to conception and design, analysis and interpretation of the data, and drafting and final approval of the article. Thomas W. Pelham, MSc, PT, CSCS, contributed to conception and design; analysis and interpretation of the data; and drafting, critical revision, and final approval of the article.
Address correspondence to Laurence E. Holt, PhD, School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Health Professions, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3J5. Address ; holt/at/152.dal.ca.
Abstract
Objective:
To compare the changes in hamstring length resulting from modified proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation flexibility training in combination with cold-water immersion, hot-water immersion, and stretching alone.
Design and Setting:
Training-only subjects stood motionless for 10 minutes, while subjects in the cold group stood in a cold-water bath (8° ± 1°C) immersed up to the gluteal fold for 10 minutes, and subjects in the hot group stood in a hot-water bath (44° ± 1°C) immersed up to the gluteal fold for 10 minutes. All subjects exercised only the right lower limb using a modified proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation flexibility protocol, consisting of 1 set of 4 repetitions. This procedure was followed for 5 consecutive days.
Subjects:
Forty-five uninjured subjects (21 women, 24 men; age range, 18–25 years) were randomly assigned to the cold, hot, or stretching-alone group.
Measurements:
Subjects were measured for maximum active hip flexion on the first and fifth days.
Results:
Group results were assessed using a 2 × 3 analysis of variance, comparing changes in hamstring length from pretest to posttest. All 3 groups had significant improvements in hamstring length (pretest to posttest) (P < .05). However, no significant differences occurred among groups.
Conclusions:
No advantage was apparent in using complete hot or cold immersion to increase hamstring length in healthy subjects.
Keywords: thermal agents, stretching
Articles from Journal of Athletic Training are provided here courtesy of
National Athletic Trainers Association

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