The effect of static and dynamic stretching exercises on lower limbs concentric strength of amateur male volleyball players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of implementing a dynamic stretching program and a static, stretching regimen, each performed three times a week, over a total of 6 weeks, on the dynamic characteristics of the lower limbs. The sample comprised 42 healthy, physical education students, former amateur volleyball players,with an average age of 21,48 ± 1,851 years, height of 1,821 ± 0,064 m, body weight of 81,229 ± 9,310 kg and training age of 8,15 ± 3,174 years. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups : one performing dynamic stretching, another performing static stretching and a control group undergoing only initial and final measurements. The test participants performed initial and final laboratory measurements in the Department of Neuro Mechanics of the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science of Serres, in order to evaluate the concentric force in the isokinetic dynamometer, with the Bioware and Bioanalysis analysis programs. For data analysis, the analysis of variance with repeated measurements was used, as well as independent and dependent sample tests and the significance level was defined as p≤0.05. The control group showed no statistically significant changes in all variables measured. In the dynamic characteristics, the dynamic stretching group showed significant improvement. Instead, the static stretching group showed no improvements in dynamic characteristics, as well as in the control group. It is concluded that dynamic stretching technique clearly superior to static, at dynamic features, when both techniques are performed 3 times per week for one and a half months under the same conditions, as defined in the design of the study.