California State University, Fullerton, CA Acute ...

Acute Effects of Static Stretching on Cycling Economy Alyson E. Wolfe  Lee E. Brown FNSCA  Jared W. Coburn FNSCA  Robert D. Kersey Center for Sport Performance  Human Performance Laboratory  California State University, Fullerton, CA ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

RESULTS

Stretching has been implemented as a part of warm-up before physical events and widely thought to promote better sport performance and reduce the risk of injury. However, recently there has been extensive research and multiple studies that have concluded that acute static stretching prior to exercise inhibits power, strength and sprinting performance. However, there is little research that examines the time-course of these negative effects on endurance events. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the time-course of static stretching on cycling economy. METHODS: Subjects consisted of 5 males (age 22.00 ± 1.22 yrs, height 177.80 ± 7.98 cm, mass 74.56 ± 13.71 kg, VO2 max 60.48 ± 5.34 ml/kg/min-1) and 5 females (age 23.80 ± 2.28 yrs, -1 height 163.00 ± 4.94 cm, mass 59.74 ± 7.38 kg, VO2 max 48.86 ± 4.65 ml/kg/min ). Endurances-trained was defined as having a minimum of three hours a week of aerobic training, as well as one hour of cycling. The first of three visits was baseline testing of their VO2 max. The second and third visits were either stretching or no stretching before a 30 minute ride at 65% of their VO2 max. Conditions were counter-balanced and separated by 7 days. The stretching condition consisted of four, 30-second repetitions of five stretches with an average total stretching time of 16-minutes. RESULTS: VO2 demonstrated a significant condition by time interaction. The 5 minute time point was significantly less in the non-stretching condition. No other time points were different. CONCLUSION: The stretching condition yielded acutely detrimental effects (within the first five minutes) in the efficiency of cycling demonstrated by an increase in VO2. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Coaches and athletes looking to enhance economy in cycling events may exclude static stretching immediately before an event.

Stretching has been implemented as a part of warm-up before physical events and widely thought to promote better sport performances and reduce the risk of injury. Recently there has been extensive research and multiple studies that have concluded that acute static stretching prior to exercise inhibits power, strength and sprinting performance. However, there is little research that examines the time-course of these negative effects on endurance events.

VO2 demonstrated a significant condition by time interaction. The 5 minute time point was significantly less in the non-stretching condition. No other time points were different. (Figure 1)

The purpose of this study was to examine the time-course of static stretching on cycling economy.

METHODS Subjects consisted of 5 males (age 22.00 ± 1.22 yrs, height 177.80 ± 7.98 cm, mass 74.56 ± 13.71 -1 kg, VO2 max 60.48 ± 5.34 ml/kg/min )and 5 females (age 23.80 ± 2.28 yrs, height 163.00 ± 4.94 cm, mass 59.74 ± 7.38 kg, VO2 max 48.86 ± 4.65 ml/kg/min-1). Endurances-trained was defined a having a minimum of three hours a week of aerobic training, as well as one hour of cycling. The first of three visits was baseline testing of their VO2 max. The second and third visits were either stretching or no stretching before a 30 minute ride at 65% of their VO2 max. Conditions were counter-balanced and separated by 7 days. The stretching condition consisted of four, 30-second repetitions of five stretches with an average total stretching time of 16-minutes.

VO2 (ml/kg/min-1)

PURPOSE

Figure 1. 45 40

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35 30 25

5

10

15

20

Stretching

Non-Stretching

25

30

Time (min)

CONCLUSION The stretching condition yielded acutely detrimental effects (within the first five minutes) in the efficiency of cycling demonstrated by an increase in VO2.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION Coaches and athletes looking to enhance economy in cycling events may exclude static stretching acutely before the event.