Effect of Static Stretching on Amateur Athletes: Pilot Test

Identifier:  TFG:1786

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG1786

Authors:  Gómez Barro, Enric

Abstract:
The aim of this study is to determine whether the performance of a static stretching program and the moment of the training in which it is performed may influence the physical abilities of a long-term amateur athlete. This study had the participation of one subject (n=1), a 16-year-old male amateur runner that fulfilled both inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study has been carried out in three stages, (1) without stretching, (2) stretching before training and (3) stretching after training, which lasted two months each, following a static stretching pattern of the lower limbs. At the beginning and the end of every stage, the flexibility of the muscles that appeared in the stretching program has been assessed, as well as the speed, resistance and explosiveness force of the subject. The participant experienced an improvement of flexibility and a decline in the remaining physical abilities at the end of the second stage (stretching before training), whereas in stage three (stretching after training) the physical abilities improved while flexibility decreased. Therefore, authors consider that the moment in which static stretching is performed during exercise is important depending on the proposed objective.