Efectos del entrenamiento de facilitación neuromuscular propioceptiva sobre el grupo muscular isquiosural en estudiantes de enseñanza media

Introduction: the accomplishment of a propioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) training two days a week, would produce great improvements on the extensibility of the isquiosural group in 116 students cursing first year of high school. Purpose: to prove the effects of a PNF training program with a slow-reversal-hold-relax (SRHR) technique over the extensibility of the isquiosural muscular group on first year students of Liceo Paula Jaraquemada high school. Methodology: 116 students; age 14,26 ± 0,5 years ; height 163 ± 0.07 cm; weight 61.86 ± 14.10 kg finished a propioceptive neuromuscular facilitation training program focused on three muscular groups (Quadriceps, Glute Maximus and Isquiosural) lasting a total of 4 weeks, executed after the warm up done in Physical Education and Health classes, with a total extension of 45 minutes. The extensibility of the isquiosural muscular group was evaluated through the V Sit-and-Reach (VSR) test, the session prior the start of the program, one week before it (pre test) and the session after finishing the program (post test). Results: it was found a great improvement of the distance reached by students on the V Sit-and-Reach (p < 0,0001) test, according to the initial measurement and the last measurement. Discussion and conclusion: The application of a flexibility training program lasting 4 weeks, with a frequency of two days per week, produced a statistically significant improvement in the extensibility of the hamstring muscle group. However, this result may be due to the tolerance to stretching of the musculature and that significant improvements may be found in longer-duration programs. Further research should continue to be conducted on muscle extensibility programs using different techniques and protocols, for the benefit of students and their improvement in quality of life.