BACKGROUND: The most common injuries in physical fitness training are lower extremity overuse injuries, and gastrocnemius tension is an important factor for the repeated occurrence of lower extremity overuse injuries. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between gastrocnemius flexibility and lower extremity overuse injuries in physical fitness training. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Randomized controlled observation was conducted between November 2006 and March 2007 at PLA Institute of Physical Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. PARTICIPANTS: 122 male recruits participated the basic physical fitness training of PLA Institute of Physical Education, they were divided randomly using random digits table into accentuation training group and control group, 61 recruits in each group. METHODS: Recruits in control group did routine extension movement, including extension exercises of gastrocnemius tendons; recruits in accentuation training group in addition added extension exercises of gastrocnemius tendons before lunch, supper and sleep, respectively, 30 seconds/time. Gastrocnemius flexibility was checked at the biginning and at the end of the 12-week training course, and all conditions of lower extremity overuse injuries were recorded immediately. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gastrocnemius flexibility and incidence of lower extremity overuse injuries in the 2 groups. RESULTS: Gastrocnemius flexibility increased significantly in accentuation training group compared with the control group (p < 0.01). The number of injuries was also significantly lower in accentuation training group (p < 0.05). Nineteen injuries occurred in the control group for an incidence rate of 30.6%, compared with 9 injuries in accentuation training group for an incidence rate of 15.0%. CONCLUSION: Increasing gastrocnemius flexibility can reduce the incidence of lower extremity overuse injuries.

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