OBJECTIVE: (1) to analyse the accumulative effects of a 12-week active stretching program on hip flexion passive range of motion (HF-PROM), and (2) to compare whether participants with different PROM baseline scores (normal and limited hamstring flexibility) respond in the same way to stretching. DESIGN: Repeated measures design. SETTING: Controlled laboratory environment. PARTICIPANTS: 138 males were categorized according to hamstring flexibility in the unilateral passive straight-leg raise test (PSLR) and assigned to one of two groups: normal hamstring flexibility (> 80degree) or limited hamstring flexibility (< 80degree). In each group, participants were randomly distributed into one of two treatment subgroups: (a) control or (b) active stretching. The active stretching subgroups performed 12 weeks of flexibility training, the control subgroups did not stretch. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: HF-PROM was determined through the PSLR test. RESULTS: Both stretching subgroups significantly improved (p < 0.01) their HF-PROM from baseline. The control subgroups did not. CONCLUSIONS: 12 weeks of an active stretching program performed 3 days per week with a daily stretch dose of 180 s improved HF-PROM in both populations (normal and limited hamstring flexibility). The stretching program was equally effective in terms of absolute improvement values for males with normal and limited hamstring flexibility.

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