Effects of slow dynamic, fast dynamic, and static stretching on recovery of performance, range of motion, balance, and joint position sense in healthy adults.

Introduction: Considering the effects of fatigue on athletic performance and the subsequent increase in the probability of injury, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of slow dynamic, fast dynamic, and static stretching on the recovery of performance, range of motion (ROM), balance, and joint position sense.

Methods: Fifteen collegiate healthy females were involved in four separate sessions of slow dynamic stretching (SDS), fast dynamic stretching (FDS), static stretching (SS), and control condition (CC; without stretching), in a random order with at least 48 h of rest between sessions. After warming up, the individuals performed ROM, balance, joint position sense (JPS) maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) force as well as countermovement (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) as pre-tests.

Acute Effects of Various Stretching Techniques on Range of Motion: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Background: Although stretching can acutely increase joint range of motion (ROM), there are a variety of factors which could influence the extent of stretch-induced flexibility such as participant characteristics, stretching intensities, durations, type (technique), and muscle or joint tested.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the acute effects of stretching on ROM including moderating variables such as muscles tested, stretch techniques, intensity, sex, and trained state.

Methods: A random-effect meta-analysis was performed from 47 eligible studies (110 effect sizes).

Is functional training an efficient approach to improve body composition in older people? A systematic review.

Increases in fat mass and reductions in lean mass are associated with the frailty and mortality of older people. In this context, Functional Training (FT) is an option to increase lean mass and reduce fat mass in older people. Thus, this systematic review aims to investigate the effects of FT on body fat and lean mass in older people.

Effects of twenty-eight months of detraining imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on the functional fitness of older women experienced in concurrent and functional training.

Purpose: To assess the impacts of 28 months of detraining imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on the functional fitness of older women practicing functional or concurrent training.

Material And Methods: A clinical trial was conducted with 16 weeks of intervention and 28 months of detraining imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ninety-five participants were allocated to functional training (FT - 32), concurrent training (CT - 31), or the control group (CG - 32).

Maximal strength measurement: A critical evaluation of common methods-a narrative review.

Measuring maximal strength (MSt) is a very common performance diagnoses, especially in elite and competitive sports. The most popular procedure in test batteries is to test the one repetition maximum (1RM). Since testing maximum dynamic strength is very time consuming, it often suggested to use isometric testing conditions instead.

Sex differences in stretch-induced hypertrophy, maximal strength and flexibility gains.

If the aim is to increase maximal strength (MSt) and muscle mass, resistance training (RT) is primarily used to achieve these outcomes. However, research indicates that long-duration stretching sessions of up to 2 h per day can also provide sufficient stimuli to induce muscle growth. In RT literature, sex-related differences in adaptations are widely discussed, however, there is a lack of evidence addressing the sex-related effects on MSt and muscle thickness (MTh) of longer duration stretch training.

Resistance Training Induces Improvements in Range of Motion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Although it is known that resistance training can be as effective as stretch training to increase joint range of motion, to date no comprehensive meta-analysis has investigated the effects of resistance training on range of motion with all its potential affecting variables.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of chronic resistance training on range of motion compared either to a control condition or stretch training or to a combination of resistance training and stretch training to stretch training, while assessing moderating variables.

Design: For the main analysis, a random-effect meta-analysis was used and for the subgroup analysis a mixed-effect model was implemented.

The Effects of Foam Rolling Training on Performance Parameters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis including Controlled and Randomized Controlled Trials.

Foam rolling (FR) is a new and popular technique for increasing range of motion. While there are a few studies that demonstrate increased performance measures after an acute bout of FR, the overall evidence indicates trivial performance benefits. As there have been no meta-analyses on the effects of chronic FR on performance, the objective of this systematic meta-analytical review was to quantify the effects of FR training on performance.

The Effect of a Handball Warm-Up Program on Dynamic Balance among Elite Adolescent Handball Players.

This study examined the effect of the handball warm-up program (HWP) on dynamic balance among elite adolescent handball players. In this case, 24 handball players were randomly assigned into experimental warm-up and control groups. The HWP was performed over 8 weeks (3 times per week).

The Role of Trunk Training for Physical Fitness and Sport-Specific Performance. Protocol for a Meta-Analysis.

The trunk (core) muscles are involved in daily functions (i. e., stabilizing the body in everyday tasks) and force generation of the limbs during athletic tasks such as kicking, throwing, or running.

The short- and long-term effects of resistance training with different stability requirements.

The aim of this study was to assess the short- and long-term effects of resistance training (RT) with different stability requirements. Fifty-nine men underwent a 3-week familiarization period followed by a 7-week training period. During familiarization, all participants trained four sessions of squats with a Smith machine, free weights and free weights standing on a wobble board.

Muscle activation comparisons between elastic and isoinertial resistance: A meta-analysis.

Background: Elastic resistance has been commonly used in the therapeutic and fitness setting; however, the ability of elastic resistance to overload and activate muscles has been questioned because of linear increase in elastic resistance as the device is elongated. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the available literature on muscle activation associated with isoinertial and elastic resistance exercises, and to provide a quantitative summary comparing the two resistance training modes.

Methods: In a random-effects model, the Hedge's g effect size was used to calculate the biased corrected standardized mean difference between the elastic and isoinertial resistance activation of prime movers (agonist), antagonists, assistant movers and stabilizer muscles.

Bilateral Knee Extensor Fatigue Modulates Force and Responsiveness of the Corticospinal Pathway in the Non-fatigued, Dominant Elbow Flexors.

Exercise-induced fatigue affects muscle performance and modulates corticospinal excitability in non-exercised muscles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of bilateral knee extensor fatigue on dominant elbow flexor (EF) maximal voluntary force production and corticospinal excitability. Transcranial magnetic, transmastoid electrical and brachial plexus electrical stimulation (BPES) were used to investigate corticospinal, spinal, and muscle excitability of the dominant EF before and after a bilateral knee extensor fatiguing protocol or time matched rest period (control).

ECCENTRIC AND CONCENTRIC JUMPING PERFORMANCE DURING AUGMENTED JUMPS WITH ELASTIC RESISTANCE: A META-ANALYSIS.

Introduction: The initial rapid eccentric contraction of a stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) activity is typically reported to accentuate the subsequent concentric jump performance. Some researchers have rationalized that adding elastic resistance (ER) to explosive type activities (e.g.

Acute bouts of upper and lower body static and dynamic stretching increase non-local joint range of motion.

Purpose: There are conflicts in the literature concerning the crossover or non-local effects of stretching. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether static (SS) and dynamic (DS) stretching of the shoulders would affect hip flexor range of motion (ROM) and performance and reciprocally whether SS and DS of the lower body would affect shoulder extension ROM and performance.

Methods: A randomized crossover study design examined the acute effects of upper and lower body SS and DS on lower and upper body performance measures, respectively.

Unilateral plantar flexors static-stretching effects on ipsilateral and contralateral jump measures.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of unilateral ankle plantar flexors static-stretching (SS) on the passive range of movement (ROM) of the stretched limb, surface electromyography (sEMG) and single-leg bounce drop jump (SBDJ) performance measures of the ipsilateral stretched and contralateral non-stretched lower limbs. Seventeen young men (24 ± 5 years) performed SBDJ before and after (stretched limb: immediately post-stretch, 10 and 20 minutes and non-stretched limb: immediately post-stretch) unilateral ankle plantar flexor SS (6 sets of 45s/15s, 70-90% point of discomfort). SBDJ performance measures included jump height, impulse, time to reach peak force, contact time as well as the sEMG integral (IEMG) and pre-activation (IEMGpre-activation) of the gastrocnemius lateralis.

Effect of differing intensities of fatiguing dynamic contractions on contralateral homologous muscle performance.

The purpose of this study was to investigate different intensities of unilateral fatiguing dynamic quadriceps contractions on non-exercised, contralateral quadriceps performance. In a randomized crossover study design with 12 recreationally trained male (1.78 ± 0.

Foam rolling as a recovery tool after an intense bout of physical activity.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to understand the effectiveness of foam rolling (FR) as a recovery tool after exercise-induced muscle damage, analyzing thigh girth, muscle soreness, range of motion (ROM), evoked and voluntary contractile properties, vertical jump, perceived pain while FR, and force placed on the foam roller.

Methods: Twenty male subjects (≥3 yr of strength training experience) were randomly assigned into the control (n = 10) or FR (n = 10) group. All the subjects followed the same testing protocol.

Isometric training with maximal co-contraction instruction does not increase co-activation during exercises against external resistances.

The present investigation verified that strength is improved by a training programme consisting of repetitions of maximal isometric voluntary co-contractions without increasing co-activations during contractions against external resistances. Ten participants performed 12 training sessions (four sets of 6 × 4 second maximal isometric co-contraction of the elbow flexor and extensors, 3 days a week for 4 weeks). Surface electromyograms of triceps and biceps brachii were collected during maximal voluntary isometric elbow flexion and extension against a force transducer.

An inverted seated posture decreases elbow flexion force and muscle activation.

The purpose of this study was to determine if discrepancies exist between upright and inverted seated positions in isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) elbow flexor force, MVC force produced in the first 100 ms (F100), MVC rate of force development, electromyographic (EMG) activity of the biceps and triceps as well as heart rate and blood pressure. The results showed significantly (p < 0.01) higher MVC force (543.