Content area
Full Text
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of different types of warm-up on countermovement vertical jump (VJ) performance. Sixty-four male Division I collegiate football players completed a pretest for VJ height. The participants were then randomly assigned to a warm-up only condition, a warm-up plus static stretching condition, a warm-up plus dynamic stretching condition, or a warm-up plus dynamic flexibility condition. VJ performance was tested immediately after the completion of the warm-up. The results showed that there was a significant difference (P < .05) in VJ performance between the warm-up groups. Posttest jump performance improved in all groups; however, the mean for the static stretching group was significantly lower than the means for the other 3 groups. The static stretching negated the benefits gained from a general warm-up when performed immediately before a VJ test.
KEY WORDS power output, static stretching, dynamic stretching, dynamic flexibility
INTRODUCTION
Athletes typically perform a warm-up to prepare to engage in practice or competition. Traditionally, these warm-ups have included some form of static stretching. However, there is some evidence that static stretching can be detrimental to the power component of athletic performance. Stretching has been shown to inhibit drop-jump performance (16,17), vertical jump performance (2,5,6,7), power output as measured by maximum voluntary contraction force (3), and leg extension power (15). The mechanisms by which static stretching impairs performance are unknown, but it has been hypothesized to be related to lower levels of musculotendinous stiffness (14), a reduced ability to recruit motor units (4), or the inhibition of the acute response of muscle proprioceptors, such as the Golgi tendon organs (8).
The observation of performance decrements from static stretching has led to the investigation of alternative options for sport preparation. One such alternative is a dynamic warm-up, which incorporates movements similar to those performed in the sport (1). Dynamic warm-ups have been shown to increase power output when cycling (12). Another option that has been suggested for warm-up is dynamic stretching, which is performed to increase dynamic flexibility. Dynamic flexibility stretching consists of performing movements that take the limb through the range of motion by contracting the agonist muscle, allowing the antagonist muscle to relax and elongate (9,10). A study by Yamaguchi and Ishii (15) compared...