INTRODUCTION: Cryotherapy is indicated to decrease the discomfort during the sessions of stretching and provide better results in the gain of extensibility. OBJECTIVE: Study's objective was to verify the gain extensibility of ham-string muscles, comparing the static stretching with static stretching associated with cryotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty subjects participated of the study, aged between 18 and 25 years, divided equally in two groups, considering that both performed stretching and stretching associated with cryotherapy. It has been used ice packs on the back of the thigh for 15 minutes. Then, it has been realized the application of static stretching of hamstrings, in two sets of 30 seconds each. RESULTS: It has been found significant differences in the extensibility of hamstring muscles in both groups, but there were no significant differences in the extensibility of hamstring muscles when compared static stretching with static stretching associated with cryotherapy. CONCLUSION: There was an immediate increase of the extensibility of hamstring muscles. However, the use of cryotherapy was not effective for gain of extensibility.
Muscle stretching exercices; Cryotherapy; Pliability
