EFFECTS OF HEATING BY ULTRASOUND AND AEROBIC ACTIVITY ON FLEXIBILITY OF THE HUMAM TRICEPS SURAE – A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of increasing temperature by ultrasound and cycling on the triceps surae muscle in vivo. Seventy-nine students were randomly assigned to three groups (control, ultrasound, and bicycle). The subjects were tested for ankle flexibility and then heated based on their group. Then the subjects were again tested for ankle flexibility. Comparisons of the three groups showed a tendency of the groups that received intervention to reach a greater range of motion [mean difference of 7,4 (SD= 2,9) (P=0,000) for bicycle group and 5,8 (SD= 2,3) (p= 0,000) for ultra-sound group] than control group [mean difference of 4,7 (SD= 3,1) (P=0,000)]. The results of this study confirm previous results from in vitro studies and could be a useful reference for clinical application providing information about the effects of heating on flexibility.