TABLE 1.
Comparison of hamstring flexibility and muscle stiffness between genders.
| Males | Females | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-stretching (kPa) | Post-stretching (kPa) | Percentage change | p values | Pre-stretching (kPa) | Post-stretching (kPa) | Percentage change | p values | |
| ROM | 67.7 ± 5.9 | 79.1 ± 5.8 | −16.84% | <0.001 | 74.7 ± 10.5 | 91.0 ± 11.7 | −21.82% | <0.001 |
| The SR test | 5.4 ± 3.7 | 7.7 ± 3.7 | −42.59% | 0.003 | 10.4 ± 3.8 | 13.1 ± 3.2 | −25.96% | 0.004 |
| BF | 298.9 ± 9.7 | 286.2 ± 6.4 | 4.25% | <0.001 | 221.3 ± 7.5 | 207.6 ± 10.6 | 6.19% | <0.001 |
| ST | 291.4 ± 8.3 | 284.0 ± 11.0 | 2.09% | 0.036 | 216.2 ± 12.2 | 210.7 ± 9.0 | 1.02% | 0.029 |
| MG | 285.1 ± 5.2 | 271.9 ± 2.0 | 4.63% | <0.001 | 253.7 ± 9.5 | 247.0 ± 4.4 | 2.64% | 0.015 |
| LG | 308.9 ± 7.8 | 293.0 ± 2.4 | 5.15% | <0.001 | 263.1 ± 11.6 | 254.8 ± 9.0 | 3.15% | 0.013 |
| SOL | 416.1 ± 9.1 | 401.3 ± 8.5 | 3.56% | <0.001 | 371.5 ± 8.0 | 349.6 ± 8.5 | 5.90% | <0.001 |
Values are means ± SD. Percentage change = (posttest values − pretest values) ÷ pretest values × 100%. Abbreviations: ROM, range of motion; The SR test, the sit-and-reach test; BF, biceps femoris muscle; ST, semitendinosus muscle; MG, medial gastrocnemius muscles; LG, lateral gastrocnemius muscles; SOL, soleus.