Dent, J., O'Brien, J., Bushman, T., Abel, K., & Janot, J. (2009). Acute and prolonged effects of static stretching and dynamic warm-up on muscular power and strength. ACSM 56th Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington. Presentation Number 805.

This study determined the acute and prolonged effects of static stretching and dynamic warm-up on muscular power and strength. Ss (active N = 14; inactive N = 10) performed a 10- and 30-yd dash, vertical jump, and 1 RM squat at intervals of 5, 30, and 60 minutes following 15 minutes of either static stretching or dynamic warm-up. Treatments were completed within one week of baseline testing.

Times for the 10-yd and 30-yd dashes for the total group were significantly slower following static stretching and dynamic warm-up at all time intervals compared to baseline. However, active Ss better maintained their 10-yd and 30-yd results over time following each protocol versus inactive Ss. Vertical jump height significantly decreased following both treatments at all time intervals compared to baseline. Vertical jump decreased more over time following static stretching versus dynamic warm-up in active Ss but the opposite was observed for inactive Ss. 1 RM squat significantly increased following both treatments at all time intervals compared to baseline. However, 1 RM squat demonstrated a greater increase following dynamic warm-up versus static stretching regardless of activity level.

Implication. All performance variables were affected over one hour following both static stretching and dynamic warm-up. Activity level influenced the performance variables with active Ss experiencing less performance decrement over time in 10-yd and 30-yd dash times and vertical jump following static stretching in particular. It is recommended that static stretching prior to muscular power activity be used cautiously as data indicated that variables did not return to baseline after a one hour.

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