The immediate effect of dynamic stretching of Quadriceps, Hamstrings and Gastrocnemius muscles on the knee joint Proprioception

Impairments of joint proprioception make the joints prone to injury. It has been suggested that stretching exercises can cause changes in properties of the joint receptors، thereby alter the sensibility of the joints proprioceptors. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of dynamic stretching of muscles surrounding the knee on the knee joint position sense in college football players. 30 college football players (mean age، 23. 20± 1. 45years) participated in this study. A 5 min warm up was performed before stretching followed by measuring knee joint position sense in dominant knee as pre-test record. Post test record was performed immediately after dynamic stretching of elected muscles. There was significant difference (p=0. 04) in pre- and post-stretch on knee joint position sense. The absolute angular error decreased significantly after the stretching protocol (2. 38±1. 48 vs. 3. 11±1. 52). A dynamic stretch regimen improved the accuracy of the knee joint position sense in 45˚of flexion in college football players.