The Effect of Different Warm Up Stretch Protocols on 20m-Sprint Performance in Trained Soccer Players

Abstract

Abstract Aim : The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of different static and dynamic stretch protocols on a 20-meter sprint. Method : 120 male soccer players were randomly assigned to 4 groups. (i) Passive static stretch (PSS) (n=30), (ii) active dynamic stretch (ADS) (n=30), (iii) active static stretch (ASS) (n=30), (iv) static dynamic stretch (SDS) (n=30). All groups performed a standard 10-min. jog as the warm-up, followed by two 20-m sprints. The 20-m sprints were repeated after subjects performed different stretch protocols. Results : The PSS and ASS groups had a significant increase in sprint period (P≤0.05), while the ADS group had a significant decrease in sprint period (p≤0.05). Conclusions : It was concluded that static stretching as part of a warm-up may decease short sprint performance, while active dynamic stretching seems to increase 20-m sprint performance.