The Use of Static Stretching in Warm-Up for Training and Competition

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren B. Young

Static stretching (SS) is widely used in warm-ups before training and competition. A growing amount of research, however, has demonstrated that SS can impair muscle performance, leading to a reevaluation of optimal warm-up protocols. This commentary discusses many of the methodological issues that can influence conclusions about the acute effects of SS on performance. One difficulty in interpreting the literature is the lack of control or communication about the volume and intensity of the various stretching treatments used. Another major issue is the failure of many researchers to evaluate SS as it is used in practice, particularly the interaction with the other general and sport-specific components of the warm-up. Acute warm-up effects on performance should be considered in conjunction with potential effects on injury prevention. Future directions in research include optimizing general and sport-specific warm-ups, time course of physiological and performance effects, and individualization of warm-ups according to fitness and skill level.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Bethany L. Anderson ◽  
Rod A. Harter ◽  
James L. Farnsworth

Clinical Scenario: Dynamic stretching and foam rolling are commonly used by athletes to reduce injury and enhance recovery, thereby improving athletic performance. In contrast to dynamic stretching, little research has been conducted on the acute effects of foam rolling as part of the preexercise warm-up routine. Previously, when researchers implemented foam rolling with static stretching as a warm-up, some found that foam rolling slightly improved flexibility and performance outcomes. More recent research has shown that dynamic stretching is favorable to static stretching when used as a warm-up strategy. Therefore, adding foam rolling to dynamic stretching is hypothesized to create more significant improvements in flexibility and performance compared with adding foam rolling to static stretching. Focused Clinical Question: In active individuals, does foam rolling in addition to dynamic stretching lead to enhanced performance compared with dynamic stretching alone? Summary of Key Findings: Four randomized controlled trials were included. Two studies concluded that the addition of foam rolling to dynamic stretching increased vertical jump height more than dynamic stretching alone, while 2 studies found no difference between these treatment groups. Two studies concluded that the addition of foam rolling increased agility performance compared with dynamic stretching alone, while one study found no difference between treatment groups and one study did not measure agility. All 4 studies reviewed concluded that foam rolling did not improve flexibility more than dynamic stretching alone. Clinical Bottom Line: Foam rolling in conjunction with dynamic stretching may further improve an athlete’s agility and power output; however, little improvement has been observed with foam rolling in regard to athlete flexibility when compared with completing dynamic stretching programs alone. Strength of Recommendation: Inconsistent findings from 4 randomized controlled trials suggest there is Grade C evidence to support the inclusion of foam rolling in a dynamic warm-up.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Brandenburg ◽  
William A. Pitney ◽  
Paul E. Luebbers ◽  
Arun Veera ◽  
Alicja Czajka

Purpose:To examine the acute effects of static stretching on countermovement vertical-jump (CMVJ) ability and monitor the time course of any stretch-induced changes.Methods:Once familiarized, 16 experienced jumpers completed 2 testing sessions in a randomized order. Each session consisted of a general warm-up, a pretreatment CMVJ assessment, a treatment, and multiple posttreatment CMVJ assessments. One treatment included lower-body static stretching, and the second treatment, involving no stretching, was the control. Posttreatment CMVJ measures occurred immediately, 3, 6, 12, and 24 minutes posttreatment. Stretching consisted of 3 static-stretching exercises, with each exercise repeated 3 times and each repetition held for 30 s.Results:Prestretch CMVJ height equaled 47.1 (± 9.7) cm. CMVJ height immediately poststretch was 45.7 (± 9.2) cm, and it remained depressed during the 24-min follow-up period. Pre-no-stretch CMVJ height was 48.4 (± 9.8) cm, whereas immediately post-no-stretch CMVJ height equaled 46.8 (± 9.5) cm, and as in the stretch treatment, post-no-stretch CMVJ height remained lower than pre-no-stretch values. Although there was a significant main effect of time (P = .005), indicating that CMVJ was lower and remained impaired after both treatments, no significant interaction effect (P = .749) was observed.Conclusion:In comparison with the no-activity control, static stretching resulted in similar reductions in CMVJ ability when examined over the same time course, so athletes preparing for CMVJ should avoid periods of inactivity, as well as static stretching.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Bulent Turna ◽  
Asuman Sahan ◽  
Bahar Yilmaz

The study investigates the acute effects of dynamic and static stretching on the tennis serve targeting performance of amateur tennis players. Twenty male athletes who were between the ages of 16-24 years and played tennis for at least 1 year (21.40±2.16 years, 181±0.06 cm, 71.85±7.42 kg, tennis playing time 1.55±0.88 years) voluntarily participated in the study.Prior to the pre-tests and after applying the traditional warm-up protocol, serve targeting test (STT) was applied to all participants. In the post-tests, STT was used after applying three different warm-up methods on three different days (48-hour rest interval). The warm-up stages included No Treatment (NT) (jogging, rally), Static Stretching (SS) and Dynamic Stretching (DS).In the statistical analysis, the homogeneity of the data was investigated using the Shapiro Wilk test. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare the pre-test and post-test results of the non-homogeneous data; Friedman test was used to compare the three different stretching methods with each other; in the paired comparisons of the groups, the paired samples t-test was used for the homogenous data and Wilcoxon test was used for the non-homogeneous data. In conclusion, stretching exercises before serving increased the serve targeting performance and the increase in the dynamic stretching exercises was higher than that in static stretching exercises.


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avery D. Faigenbaum ◽  
Jie Kang ◽  
James McFarland ◽  
Jason M. Bloom ◽  
James Magnatta ◽  
...  

Although pre-event static stretching (SS) is an accepted practice in most youth programs, pre-event dynamic exercise (DY) is becoming popular. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of pre-event SS, DY, and combined SS and DY (SDY) on vertical jump (VJ), medicine-ball toss (MB), 10-yard sprint (SP), and pro-agility shuttle run (AG) in teenage athletes (15.5 ± 0.9 years). Thirty athletes participated in three testing sessions in random order on three nonconsecutive days. Before testing, participants performed 5 min of walking/jogging followed by one of the following 10 min warm-up protocols: a) five static stretches (2 × 30 s), b) nine moderate-to-high-intensity dynamic movements (2 × 10 yards), or c) five static stretches (1 × 30 s) followed by the same nine dynamic movements (1 × 10 yards). Statistical analysis of the data revealed that performance on the VJ, MB, and SP were significantly (p < .05) improved after DY and SDY as compared with SS. There were no significant differences in AG after the 3 warm-up treatments. The results of this study indicate that pre-event dynamic exercise or static stretching followed by dynamic exercise might be more beneficial than pre-event static stretching alone in teenage athletes who perform power activities.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Noriaki Maeda ◽  
Yukio Urabe ◽  
Somu Kotoshiba ◽  
Makoto Komiya ◽  
Masanori Morikawa ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Local vibration (LV) used as part of the warm-up can stimulate a specific body part and muscle group, potentially increasing muscle flexibility and performance. However, the effect of its combination with static stretching (SS) has not been thoroughly examined. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the acute effectiveness of combining LV and SS (V+S) on the ROM of ankle dorsiflexion, squat jump, counter-movement jump (CMJ) and the dynamic postural stability index (DPSI). METHODS: Fifteen healthy men who were regularly involved in recreational sports participated in this study. Static Stretching, V+S, and non-stretching condition (control) were assigned randomly and the intervention period for each condition was five minutes. RESULTS: The dorsiflexion improved significantly in SS and V+S compared to the control. The CMJ height decreased significantly following SS compared to V+S and control. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that V+S improves ankle dorsiflexion ROM without compromising jump performance. Local vibration device could be an effective element in warming up but further research is warranted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 169-174
Author(s):  
Özgür Eken ◽  
Mehmet Z. Özkol ◽  
Saadet R. Varol

Background and Study Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate acute effects of different warm-up and stretching protocols, on 30 m. sprint, flexibility, vertical jump, strength, balance and anaerobic power performances in junior male judokas. Material and Methods: Twenty sub-elite 11-14 year old judokas who volunteered to participate in the study (age: 12,25±0,96 years; height: 1,52±0,11cm; body mass: 48,06±14,22 kg). This study consist of four different stretching and warm up protocols; without stretching (WS); static stretching (SS); dynamic warm up (DW); dynamic+static warm up (DSW). Results: The effect of the four stretching and warm up protocols were analysed by an ANOVA for repeated measures (WS x SS x DW x DSW). After stretching and warm up protocols, 30 m. sprint values are statistically significance (p<0.05). There was find statistically significant between WS and DSW, SS and DW, DW and DSW (p<0.05). There were no significant difference is found on flexibility values between four stretching and warm up protocols (p>0.05). There was only significant difference is found between WS and SS (p<0.05). Altough leg strength performance wasn’t statistically significant (p>0.05), there was found significant differences between WS and DSW, SS and DSW in favour of DSW (p<0.05). Other parameters like vertical jump, balance and back strength performance weren’t statistically significant after four stretching and warm up protocols. Conclusions: Consequently it is suggested for coaches and judokas that SS are required for developing flexibility performance and DSW can suggest for leg strength improvement.


2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel López Mariscal ◽  
Víctor Sánchez Garcia ◽  
José C. Fernández-García ◽  
Eduardo Sáez de Villarreal

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 469-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsuan Su ◽  
Nai-Jen Chang ◽  
Wen-Lan Wu ◽  
Lan-Yuen Guo ◽  
I-Hua Chu

Context:Foam rolling has been proposed to improve muscle function, performance, and joint range of motion (ROM). However, whether a foam rolling protocol can be adopted as a warm-up to improve flexibility and muscle strength is unclear.Objectives:To examine and compare the acute effects of foam rolling, static stretching, and dynamic stretching used as part of a warm-up on flexibility and muscle strength of knee flexion and extension.Design:Crossover study.Setting:University research laboratory.Participants:15 male and 15 female college students (age 21.43 ± 1.48 y, weight 65.13 ± 12.29 kg, height 166.90 ± 6.99 cm).Main Outcome Measures:Isokinetic peak torque was measured during knee extension and flexion at an angular velocity of 60°/second. Flexibility of the quadriceps was assessed by the modified Thomas test, while flexibility of the hamstrings was assessed using the sit-and-reach test. The 3 interventions were performed by all participants in random order on 3 days separated by 48–72 hours.Results:The flexibility test scores improved significantly more after foam rolling as compared with static and dynamic stretching. With regard to muscle strength, only knee extension peak torque (pre vs. postintervention) improved significantly after the dynamic stretching and foam rolling, but not after static stretching. Knee flexion peak torque remained unchanged.Conclusions:Foam rolling is more effective than static and dynamic stretching in acutely increasing flexibility of the quadriceps and hamstrings without hampering muscle strength, and may be recommended as part of a warm-up in healthy young adults.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document