Effects of simultaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation and static stretching on flexibility and strength: a randomized controlled trial.
Riyaka Ito, Tatsuya Igawa, Ryunosuke Urata and 6 others
PMID 39354918WHAT IT FOUND
Combining electrical stimulation with stretching improved forward bending distance more than stimulation alone, but it did not improve ankle flexibility or strength.
The added stretch helped hamstring range of motion immediately, with no adverse events reported.
Key findings
01The combined group showed a significantly greater improvement in forward flexion distance than the stimulation-only group.
02There was no significant difference between the groups in the change in ankle dorsiflexion angle.
03Ankle plantar flexor strength did not change significantly in either group.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study measured immediate effects only, so it is unknown if these small gains in flexibility last or accumulate over time. Participants were healthy, physically active university students, so results may not apply to older adults, athletes, or patients with existing conditions. The two groups were in different positions (standing vs. supine), which may have influenced the results independent of the stretching itself.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest and the research received no external funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the combined treatment improves ankle flexibility or strength. The study found no significant difference between groups for these outcomes, and the benefit was limited to forward bending distance.