The Effect of Static Stretching Exercises at Different Times on Heart Rate Variability Before Anaerobic Capacity Test

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the acute effect of different durations of static stretching on heart rate variability (HRV) and, the anaerobic capacity of moderately physically active men during the Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) at two different pre-exercise periods. Sixty-five healthy young male volunteers performed 10 s static stretching (STS) and 30 s static stretching (LTS) consisting of five static stretching exercises before WAnT on two non-consecutive days. HRV was measured pre (60 s), during (30 s) and post (60 s) WAnT after two different periods of static stretching. Anaerobic capacity variables were also measured during WAnT. STS and LTS had similar effects on other HRV parameters except for Mean-RR during the WAnT. There was no significant difference between the protocols applied in any of the anaerobic capacity test values. But there was a negatively significant relationship between the average power output of 30 s static stretching and pNN50. This result has shown that STS and LTS exercises have a similar effect during maximal exercise, so if the practitioners carry out static stretching exercises before maximal or high-intensity exercise, it is recommended to perform the STS exercise in terms of the economy of the exercise.