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An investigation into the effects of different warm-up modalities on specific motor skills related to soccer performance

  • Iain Fletcher
    ,
  • Mathew M. Monte-Colombo
  • University of Hertfordshire
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different warm-up stretch modalities on specific high-speed motor capabilities important to soccer performance. Twenty-seven male soccer players performed 3 warm-up conditions, active warm-up (WU), WU with static stretching (SPS), and WU with dynamic stretching (ADS). Heart rate, countermovement jump, 20-m sprint, and Balsom agility tests were performed after each intervention. Vertical jump heights were significantly greater (p < 0.01) in the WU and ADS conditions compared to those in the SPS trial. The 20-m sprint and agility times showed that the SPS condition was significantly slower (p < 0.01) than the WU and ADS conditions, with the ADS trial being significantly faster (p < 0.05) than the WU condition. Heart rate was significantly higher (p < 0.01) for participants post-WU and -ADS trials compared to the SPS condition. These findings suggest that the superior performance of the dynamic stretch and warm-up-only conditions compared to the static stretch condition may be linked to increases in heart rate. The reasons for the dynamic stretch trial superiority compared to the warm-up condition are less clear and as yet to be established. We recommend for optimal performance, specific dynamic stretches be employed as part of a warm-up, rather than the traditional static stretches.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 2096-2101

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (Volume 24, Issue 8)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 01/08/2010

Publication status

Published - 01/08/2010

ISSN

1533-4287

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/225611
  • Scopus: 77956912543

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