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DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-965132
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Upper Extremities Flexibility Comparisons of Collegiate “Soft” Martial Art Practitioners with Other Athletes
Publication History
accepted after revision February 8, 2007
Publication Date:
05 July 2007 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/sportsmed/200803/lookinside/thumbnails/10.1055-s-2007-965132-1.jpg)
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the flexibility of the upper extremities in collegiate students involved in Aikido (a kind of soft martial art attracting youth) training with those involved in other sports. Fifty freshmen with a similar frequency of exercise were divided into the Aikido group (n = 18), the upper-body sports group (n = 17), and the lower-body sports group (n = 15) according to the sports that they participated in. Eight classes of range of motion in upper extremities were taken for all subjects by the same clinicians. The Aikido group had significantly better flexibility than the upper-body sports group except for range of motion in shoulder flexion (p = 0.22), shoulder lateral rotation (p > 0.99), and wrist extension (p > 0.99). The Aikido group also had significantly better flexibility than the lower-body sports group (p < 0.01) and the sedentary group (p < 0.01) in all classes of range of motion. The upper-body sports group was significantly more flexible in five classes of range of motion and significantly tighter in range of motion of wrist flexion (p < 0.01) compared to the lower-body sports group. It was concluded that the youths participating in soft martial arts had good upper extremities flexibility that might not result from regular exercise alone.
Key words
flexibility - stretch - martial art - aikido - fitness
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Prof. MD, PhD Mao-Hsiung Huang
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital
No. 100 Tz-You 1st Road 807 Kaohsiung, Taiwan
807 Kaohsiung
Taiwan - Republic of China
Phone: + 88 673 12 11 01 59 62
Fax: + 88 673 20 82 11
Email: maohuang@ms24.hinet.net