The Comparative Effects of 6-Weeks of Dynamic and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching Intervention on Performance Measures of Endurance Athletes

Abstract

The researchers of this paper aim to compare the effect of 6-weeks of dynamic and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching intervention on performance measures of endurance athletes. To obtain data, the investigators had selected Thirty (N=30) female endurance athletes of 18-25 years of age to act as subjects. All the subjects were purposively alloted to PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) stretching Group (N1 =10); Dynamic stretching group (N2=10) & control group (N3=10). An Analysis of Covariance was used to determine significant differences for dependent variables within the three groups. When a significant difference among the groups was observed, a pair-wise comparison of the groups was done by using the LSD post-hoc test to identify direction and significant differences between the groups. For testing the hypothesis, the level of significance was set at 0.05. The results revealed insignificant intragroup differences among the three groups of endurance athletes on the variable of aerobic capacity and anaerobic power. Significant differences were observed among endurance athletes of the three groups on the vertical jump performance and peak speed (p0.05). Thus, when LSD Post-Hoc test was employed to study the direction and degree of difference for vertical jump performance and peak speed, the experimental groups were found to be significantly different when compared from the control group. It has been observed that dynamic stretching group had demonstrated significantly better on vertical jump performance and peak speed, whereas control group has demonstrated better on vertical jump performance and peak speed than PNF stretching group though not significantly. This study concludes that significant differences are observed in vertical jump performance and peak speed whereas insignificant differences are observed in aerobic capacity and anaerobic power with regard to endurance athletes.