Warming Up - Dynamic vs. Static Stretching

In a study in the Journal of Athletic Training concerning the effects of dynamic warm-up protocols on female high school athletes, it is said that a number of researchers reported that static stretching before exercise may reduce anaerobic performance through decreases in force and power, and that it may have a similar impact on children and athletics. The researchers conducting the study on dynamic stretching found that warm-up protocols that include dynamic exercises resulted in superior performance when compared to a warm-up protocol that included static stretching.

This research is very interesting, especially because in one of the SCP tutorials, we were asked to warm up in any way that we wanted. Most people did short runs, and everyone did static stretching. It is fascinating that when asked to warm up, athletes will go straight to static stretches. It has been proven that dynamic stretching is much more beneficial, so this should be added to the routines of players from an early age. If all players automatically used dynamic stretches when asked to warm up, all performances would benefit.




Reference:

Faigenbaum, A. D., McFarland, J. E., Schwerdtman, J. A., Ratamess, N. A., Jie, K., & Hoffman, J. R. (2006). Dynamic Warm-Up Protocols, With and Without a Weighted Vest, and Fitness Performance in High School Female Athletes. Journal Of Athletic Training, 41(4), 357-363.