Acute effects of three different stretching protocols on the wingate test performance

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Optimal warm-up protocols are crucial for maximizing athletic performance.
• The acute effects of various stretching techniques on anaerobic capacity remain a subject of investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the acute effects of static stretching (SS), dynamic stretching (DS), and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on Wingate test (WT) performance.
• To compare the impact of different stretching modalities versus a no-stretching condition on key anaerobic power metrics.

Main Methods:

• Fifteen male participants completed five Wingate tests: familiarization, no stretching (NS), SS, DS, and PNF.
• Stretches targeted major lower limb muscles (hamstrings, quadriceps, calves).
• Measured outcomes included peak power (PP), mean power (MP), and time to reach peak power (TP).

Main Results:

• Mean power (MP) was significantly lower following dynamic stretching (DS) compared to proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) (p < 0.05).
• Peak power (PP) showed significant differences across conditions, with PNF yielding the lowest values.
• All stretching interventions consistently increased the time to reach peak power (TP) compared to the no stretching (NS) condition.

Conclusions:

• The choice of stretching modality, or omitting stretching altogether, can influence maximal anaerobic power output.
• Athletes aiming to optimize performance in power-dominant sports should carefully consider pre-exercise stretching strategies.