| The purpose of this study was to compare effects of static and dynamic stretching on explosive agility movements, and to examine the effect of the interaction of dynamic and static stretching prior to explosive agility movements. Fourteen men and 10 women performed the different warm-up protocols, including no warm-up (NWU), static stretching (SS), dynamic stretching (DS), and dynamic stretching with static stretching (DS+SS). The T-Drill was used to assess agility. The results indicated no difference between the NWU and SS conditions (effect size = 0.40, p = 0.06), as well as no significant difference between the NWU and DS+SS conditions (effect size = 0.01, p = 0.48), and the SS and DS+SS conditions (effect size = 0.40, p = 0.06). Statistically significant differences were found between the NWU and DS conditions (effect size = 0.45, p = 0.03), the SS and DS conditions (effect size = 0.85, p < 0.001), and the DS and DS+SS conditions (effect size = 0.40, p = 0.03). Agility test times, in order from fastest to slowest, were (a) dynamic stretching (10.87 +/- 1.07 s), (b) dynamic stretching + static stretching (11.41 +/- 1.26 s), (c) no warm-up (11.42 +/- 1.21 s), (d) static stretching (11.90 +/-1.35 s). Dynamic stretching resulted in the fastest agility test time. Static stretching resulted in the slowest agility times. The benefits of dynamic stretching may have been diluted when followed by Static Stretching, and the agility test time was the same as if no form of stretching was completed. Static stretching prior to agility is not recommended as it has a negative effect on the stretch shortening cycle, and agility. The results support the use of dynamic stretching prior to agility performance. |
