ORIGINAL ARTICLES  EXCERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2014 December;54(6):683-90

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Acute effect of different stretching methods on flexibility and jumping performance in competitive artistic gymnasts

Dallas G. ¹, Smirniotou A. ¹, Tsiganos G. ¹, Tsopani D. ¹, Di Cagno A. ^{2, 3}, Tsolakis Ch. ¹ ✉

¹ National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Dafne, Greece; ² Department of Health Sciences, University of Rome, Rome, Italy; ³ Department of Medicine and Health Science, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of 3 different warm up methods of stretching (static, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, and stretching exercises on a Vibration platform) on flexibility and legs power-jumping performance in competitive artistic gymnasts.
METHODS: Eighteen competitive artistic gymnasts were recruited to participate in this study. Subjects were exposed to each of 3 experimental stretching conditions: static stretching (SS), proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching (PNF), and stretching exercises on a Vibration platform (S+V). Flexibility assessed with sit and reach test (S & R) and jumping performance with squat jump (SJ) and counter movement jump (CMJ) and were measured before, immediately after and 15 min after the interventions.
RESULTS: Significant differences were observed for flexibility after all stretching conditions for S+V (+1.1%), SS (+5.7%) and PNF (+6.8%) (P=0.000), which remained higher 15 min after interventions (S+V (1.1%), SS (5.3%) and PNF (5.5%), respectively (P=0.000).
CONCLUSION: PNF stretching increased flexibility in competitive gymnasts, while S+V maintained jumping performance when both methods were used as part of a warm-up procedure.