Almost 23 million people are unemployed or underemployed, bringing the real unemployment rate to more than 14.4percentt, and the length of unemployment remains daunting, with the average duration stretching to 35 weeks and four out of ten workers jobless for more than six months.
A study completed by Usuba et al. [ 23] examined the effect of "low torque, long duration" stretching on contracture.
Rats were randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups: control, surgical remobilization, stretching with high torque and short duration, stretching with high torque and long duration, stretching with low torque and short duration, and stretching with low torque and prolonged duration.
The low torque, prolonged duration stretching modality was used as the standard of care for chronic extension deficits of the knee in a study of 121 patients by Freiling and Lobenhoffer [ 6].
The intent of this systematic review was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of dynamic splinting which delivers low torque, prolonged duration stretching to treat joint contracture, and to determine if duration on total hours of stretching had an effect on outcomes.
In current health care systems, long-duration stretching, performed daily, cannot be obtained through prescriptions of physical therapy.
The protocol of using low-load prolonged-duration stretch, combined with the therapeutic principle of increased time at end range allows the patient to reduce contracture by achieving permanent elongation of connective tissue [ 9, 10, 13, 14, 24].
This is the protocol used with the Dynasplint Systems, (Dynasplint Systems, Inc., Severna Park, MD) and twenty-five yeago ago a biomechanically correct device was developed to utilize a low-load prolonged-duration stretch with dynamic tension to reduce contracture of the elbow and knee joints [ 10, 24].
There is still considerable debate about the number of repetitions and duration of stretches that is optimal [ 1, 36, 57], but the protocol chosen here reflects common clinical practice.
Nevertheless, contrary results are also present; Ryan et al. (2009) stated that already 2 × 30 s of static stretch can change the mechanical properties of the plantar flexors muscles when determining the minimum duration of stretch that could alter musculotendinous stiffness.
Sakakima H, Yoshida Y. Effects of short duration static stretching on the denervated and reinnervated soleus muscle morphology in the rat.
