Acute effect of specific warm-up exercises on sprint performance after static and dynamic stretching in amateur soccer players

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of specific warm-up in soccer on 20 m sprint after static and dynamic stretching in a sample of 16 healthy amateur soccer players, aged 21,41±3,28 years. All participants performed on different days and in random order, a warm-up program that included general warm up, static or dynamic stretching of lower extremities, a specific warm-up of the sport and three measurements of 20 m sprint. The first sprint measurement was made after the general warm up, the second after the static or dynamic stretching and the third after the specific warm-up. The time of sprint was measured by photocells. The results of the study showed a decline of the sprint time after the static stretching protocol (p<0.05) and reversal (p<0.005) after the application of the specific part of the warm-up. The results also showed that the sprint performance is not affected neither positively nor negatively, after the implementation of dynamic stretching protocol and the specific warm-up that follows. It is concluded that the specific soccer warm-up which is applied to the third part of the warm-up, not only eliminates the negative effects caused by static stretching on sprint, but also improves the performance in amateur soccer players. Moreover this type of warm-up does not affect the sprint after the dynamic stretching. © JPES.