Elucidation of determinants of joint flexibility and establishment of custom-made stretching method to prevent muscle strains

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H03233
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Sports science
• Research Institution: Juntendo University (2018-2019); National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya (2016-2017)
• Principal Investigator: Miyamoto Naokazu 順天堂大学, スポーツ健康科学部, 准教授 (20420408)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 福 典之 順天堂大学, スポーツ健康科学部, 先任准教授 (40392526)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 柔軟性 / 関節可動域 / 筋スティフネス / 遺伝子多型

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we used ultrasound shear wave elastography that can noninvasively and directly quantify the stiffness of biological tissues in vivo, and demonstrated the following: 1) joint flexibility (e.g., range of motion) can reflect significantly but only weakly-to-moderately the muscle stiffness, 2) muscle stiffness is higher in men than women, 3) stretching exercise cannot necessarily reduce the stiffness of all muscles targeted, and 4) muscle stiffness is partly influenced by genetic factors.

Free Research Field

スポーツ科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

スポーツの現場においては、肉離れ予防効果を期待してストレッチ運動が頻繁におこなわれているが、実際にはその効果は乏しい。肉離れ受傷に直接関連しうる一つ一つの筋肉の硬さ（伸びにくさ）を定量した上で、それに対するストレッチの効果や遺伝要因の影響を明らかしている本研究の成果は、個人個人の特徴に合わせた肉離れ予防プログラムの開発に繋がる知見である。