Comparison of dynamic and static stretching on dynamic balance performance in recreational football players

Abstract

Background: Football is the world's most popular sport with new players added every year. Recreational football is considered to as health promotion activity for untrained subjects. With the requirement of maintaining balance over one leg at different stages of the game, football players are expected to have superior unipedal stability. Stretching, either static or dynamic, has proven to be of utmost significance as a warm strategy. However, experiemental trials on evaluation of acute effects on dynamic balance are seen limited in scope and implementation. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of dynamic and static stretching on dynamic balance performance in recreational football players. Materials and Methods: Thiry male recreational football players participated in the study. Subjects who participated in a minimum of one football session per week for the preceding two months were included in the study on the condition that they should not participate in a structured training or exercise session from last 2 months. Subjects were divided intotwo groups. Group A(n=15) were given dynamic stretching of ankle plantaflexors, hamstrings, quadriceps, hip adductors, hip flexors and hip extensors.Group B(n=15) were given static stretching of same muscle groups. Star excursion balance test was used as main outcome measure. Results: Paired t-tests were used for pre and post score measures for within group comparisons. Independent t-tests was used for comparison of pre and post test score difference for between group comparisons. Significant difference was found between pre and post normalized combined composite scores of SEBT within group A (P<0.001) and Group B(P<0.001). There was non significant difference between the combined normalized composite scores for between group comparisons (P=0.901). Conclusion: Both dynamic stretching and static stretching are equally effective in improving dynamic balance performance in recreational football players. However, the nature of dynamic stretching being more functional , it may prove to have better compliance and acceptability by the coaches and players and may also be used as a preventive strategy for injury management.