The effect of static and dynamic muscle stretching as part of warm-up procedures on stretching on isokinetic strength, functional movement screen, flexibility and agility in Korean national foil fencers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of combined static and dynamic stretch as part of warm-up procedures on isokinetic strength, functional movement screen (FMS), flexibility, and agility in Korean national foil fencers. Twelve Korean fencers (mean age 29.3±3.6yrs, Career: 16.6±3.1yrs, Height: 171.4±9.5cm, Weight: 67.3±12.4kg) participated in this study (Male: 7, age 30.0±3.2yrs, Career: 16.7±2.2yrs, Height: 177.1±8.1cm, Weight: 75.1±9.9kg; Female: 5, age 28.4±4.4yrs, Career: 16.4±4.3yrs, Height: 163.4±3.9cm, Weight: 56.3±4.1kg). Fencers measured FMS, isokinetic strength of knee joint, flexibility, agility at pre (1-week) and post (4-week). Fencers performed a warm-up program three times a week for four weeks. As a results, FMS scores (11.8±2.3 to 14.4±1.6, p<0.05), strength of dominant knee flexors (115.5±26.0 to 126.0±26.6, p<0.05), change-step jump (66.0±6.8 to 69.4±5.6, p<0.05), trunk forward flexion (12.0±7.7 to 13.9±6.5, p<0.05) were significantly higher in post-test than pre-test, respectively. However, the results for front-rear step, trunk backward extension were not significant differences between pre-test and post-test. These results suggest that the fencing-specific warm-up program based on stretching is effective on strength of knee flexors, agility by increasing flexibility, improving stability, mobility.