The Impact of Short-Duration Static Stretching or Combined Static Stretching with Dynamic Stretching on Sprint Performance in Moderately Trained Subjects

Abstract

The Impact of Short-Duration Static Stretching or Combined Static Stretching with Dynamic Stretching on Sprint Performance in Moderately Trained Subjects The aim of this study was to compare the effects of short-duration static stretching or static stretching combined with dynamic stretching on sprint performance. Twelve moderately trained subject (mean ± SD: age 19.20 ± 1.32 years, body mass 61.90 ± 8.41 kg, height 1.73 ± 0.51 m, % body fat 12.71 ± 1.20%) participated in three randomly experimental trials: warm-up without stretching (WNS), warm-up with a single and isolated 10 s static stretch (WSS), and warm-up with a single 10 s static stretch combined with dynamic stretching (WSSDS). Sprint testing over 5-10 m was conducted before (pre) and 5 min post-warm-up (post). The static stretching interventions included passive stretching of the lowerlimb’s musculature (planter flexors, knee flexors, hip extensors, adductors, and knee extensors). The stretch position was held once for 10 s each per muscle group (100 s total duration). The dynamic stretching included 2 sets of active dynamic stretch of the same muscle groups mentioned previously. There were no significant time, condition and interaction effects over the 5-and 10-m sprint time (with p>0.05). Analysis of effect sizes showed that the warmup without stretching (WNC) decreased 5-m sprint time by 2.72% (small effect) and 10-m sprint time by 1.60% (minimal effect). WSS and WSSDS produced minimal effects on 5- and 10-m sprint time. Preliminarily, static stretching appears to reduce short-duration sprint performance.