| Abstract | The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of static and dynamic stretching on running economy and performance. Three male and two female collegiate distance runners aged 19-24 were recruited. Participants reported to the laboratory on 4 separate days. On day 1, VO2 max was measured. On days 2 through 4, participants performed a 5-kilometer treadmill run randomly under no stretching, static stretching, or dynamic stretching conditions separated by at least 2 days. Static stretching consisted of 6 minutes using 8 reach-and-hold exercises for the major muscle groups, whereas dynamic stretching consisted of 6 minutes using 9 active-stretching exercises for the major muscle groups. The run consisted of a 5-minute steady state followed by the rest of the distance to complete 5 kilometers where participants ran as fast as possible without viewing speed. VO2 and RER were measured at 1-minute intervals during the steady state, while heart rate and time were measured at 1/2-mile intervals for the entire run. RPE at the end of the steady state as well as final 5-kilometer time were also recorded. There was no significant difference between the three conditions for any variable. This finding suggests little effect of stretch type prior to an endurance event, or that optimal stretching duration should be determined through more research. |
