The Effects Of Two Stretching Protocols On The Reactive Strength Index In Female Soccer And Rugby Players

Authors

Kira M. Werstein, Iowa State UniversityFollow
Robin J. Lund, University of Northern IowaFollow

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Dynamic, Force, Static

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

Volume

26

Issue

6

First Page

1564

Last Page

1567

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 2 stretching protocols on stretch-shortening cycle performance in female Division I soccer players and female club rugby players. Fifteen soccer and rugby players (20.1 ± 5.9 years, 170.5 ± 14.2 cm, 70.4 ± 22.3 kg) participated in 3 test sessions with different treatments. The first treatment involved a warm-up of 10 minutes of exercise on a cycle ergometer (warm-up only [WO]), the second was this warmup followed by static stretching (SS), and the third was this warm-up followed by dynamic stretching (DS). The treatments were administered randomly to negate an order effect. Each treatment was immediately followed by a reactive strength index (RSI) test requiring the athletes to drop off a box (45 cm in height) on to a force plate and upon landing immediately jump into the air while minimizing contact time (CT, milliseconds) and maximizing flight time (FT, milliseconds). The RSI was FT: CT. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that a significant treatment effect existed for RSI (F = 7.95, 2; p = 0.002) and FT (F = 7.43, 2; p = 0.003) but no significant effect for CT (F = 1.53, 2; p = 0.235). The RSI and FT were significantly greater in DS compared with that in SS and WO. Dynamic stretching is the preferred warm-up before an athletic event involving considerable jumping. © 2012 National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Department

School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services

Original Publication Date

6-1-2012

DOI of published version

10.1519/JSC.0b013e318231ac09

Recommended Citation

Werstein, Kira M. and Lund, Robin J., "The Effects Of Two Stretching Protocols On The Reactive Strength Index In Female Soccer And Rugby Players" (2012). Faculty Publications. 1778.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/facpub/1778