Stretching Has No Effect on Free Throw Shooting Accuracy

Abstract

1433 Stretching has been shown to decrease maximum muscular performance for up to an hour in a variety of movements. The mechanisms for this inhibition appear to be decreases in contractile force, reflex sensitivity, and activation. It is unknown if stretch-induced performance decrements also occur in sub-maximal, accuracy-oriented movements. PURPOSE: To determine if upper extremity stretching affects free throw shooting accuracy in female college players. METHODS: Ten female college basketball players (19.7 ± 1.7 years) performed 60 free throws following a generalized warm-up. Free throws were coded in three conditions: 20 practice shots, 20 regular, and 20 following three 20-second stretches for the deltoid, triceps brachii, and wrist flexors. Players were allowed to take up to five practice shots after stretching before the last 20-shot test. The number of made free throws were recorded and expressed as a percentage. Reliability of the shooting test was documented by typical errors between the warm-up and the regular shooting conditions. Mean shooting percentage between the regular and the stretching conditions were compared with a t test. RESULTS: The reliability of the test was good with a mean change of less than one shot (4.1%) and a typical error of 8.3%. Stretching had no effect (t = 0.13, p <0.89) on free throw shooting percentage in these subjects. The mean shooing accuracy was 80.5 ± 13.4 and 80.0 ± 8.5 in the regular and stretching conditions, respectively. These data are limited by the small sample from two collegiate basketball teams, but the data do indicate that stretching does not affect accuracy-related movements like free throw performance. CONCLUSIONS: Stretching-induced performance decrements seen in high-force muscular performance may not be present in accuracy-related movements like a basketball free throw.