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Warm-up or stretch as preparation for sprint performance?
Matthew Stewart1, Roger Adams, Albert Alonso
1SportsPhysio West, 116 Macquarie Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia.
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
|November 23, 2006
Summary
A warm-up significantly improves sprint performance in elite young rugby players, while stretching alone does not enhance speed. Warm-up benefits diminish over multiple sprints, but remain effective for immediate athletic performance.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Athletic Performance
Background:
- Warm-up and stretching are common pre-exercise routines.
- Limited comparative data exists on their effectiveness for athletic performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of warm-up and stretching on sprint performance in elite youth rugby league players.
Main Methods:
- Four preparation protocols were tested: no preparation, stretching only, warm-up only, and combined warm-up and stretching.
- Fourteen elite Under-19 rugby league players participated in a counterbalanced design.
- Athletes performed three 40-m sprints at maximum speed, electronically timed.
Main Results:
- Warm-up significantly improved sprint times compared to no warm-up, with a mean advantage of 0.97m on the first trial.
- Stretching alone resulted in a mean disadvantage of 0.18m on the first trial and showed no significant overall effect.
- The positive effect of warm-up diminished over subsequent trials, but it remained effective for immediate performance.
Conclusions:
- Warm-up is effective for enhancing immediate sprint performance in elite young athletes.
- Lower limb stretching, for an equivalent duration, does not improve sprint performance and may slightly impair it.
- Warm-up protocols should be considered for optimizing athletic performance in rugby league.
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