Acute Effects of Static Stretching, Active Warm Up, or Passive Warm Up on Flexibility of the Plantar Flexor Muscles of Iranian Professional Female Taekwondo Athletes. Issue 3 (September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nuri, Leila; Ghotbi, Nastaran; Faghihzadeh, Soghrat
• Is Part Of: Journal of musculoskeletal pain. Volume 21:Issue 3(2013)
• Page Start: 263
• Page End: 268
• Publication Date: 2013-09
• Subjects: Nonarticular rheumatism -- Periodicals; Myalgia -- Periodicals; Pain -- Periodicals; Musculoskeletal system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.7
• DOI: 10.3109/10582452.2013.827771
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-2452

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Objectives</bold>: Muscle flexibility is an important component of injury prevention in athletes. Active warm-up, passive warm-up and static stretching are different methods for increasing flexibility. Little clinical evidence is available regarding which of these methods has a greater role in increasing flexibility. This study was performed to compare acute effects of the above methods on the flexibility of the plantar flexor muscles of professional female taekwondo athletes.</p> <p> <bold>Methods</bold>: Female professional taekwondo athletes were randomly classified into three intervention protocol groups [active warm-up, passive warm-up, or static stretching, respectively]. Passive and active range of motion [ROM] was measured using a universal goniometer before and immediately after performing each of the designated flexibility protocols.</p> <p> <bold>Results</bold>: Thirty female athletes participated, providing 10 subjects for each group. There were no differences in age or body mass index between groups. The static-stretching protocol significantly increased active [<italic>p</italic> = 0.001] and passive [<italic>p</italic> = 0.001] ROM. The active warm-up protocol did not change either the active or passive ROM [<italic>p</italic> > 0.05]. The passive warm up protocol increased only the active ROM [<italic>p</italic> = 0.04]. <italic>Post hoc</italic> testing showed a significant difference not only between static stretching and active warm-up groups [<italic>p</italic> = 0.000], but also between static stretching and passive warm-up groups [<italic>p</italic> = 0.000]. There was no significant difference between the passive and active warm-up groups [<italic>p</italic> > 0.05].</p> <p> <bold>Conclusions</bold>: Static stretching only protocol increased flexibility more than active and passive warm-up only protocols.</p> </abstract>