Stretching has been advocated by many authors as a means of injury prevention. However, there is little research available on the optimum parameters of stretch. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to compare the effects of static and ballistic stretching on a change in soleus muscle length. In addition, we attempted to determine an effective frequency and duration of stretch. Forty-four male subjects were randomly divided into two equal groups, ballistic stretch and static stretch. Subjects completed 10 stretching sessions over a five week period. Each session consisted of either one 15 second static stretch or 15 ballistic stretches of one second duration each. Ankle range of motion using goniometry was used as an indirect measure of muscle length. The results indicated that there was no significant difference between the static and ballistic groups at the completion of the study. The results also showed that 15 seconds of stretch performed twice weekly may produce a significant increase in soleus muscle length regardless of stretch type. This is a clinically significant finding.

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