Acute effects of static and dynamic stretching for ankle plantar flexors on postural control during the single-leg standing task.

Static stretching (SS) and dynamic stretching (DS) are widely used as warm-ups before sports. However, whether stretching affects postural control remains unclear. We compared the effects of SS and DS on the plantar flexors and postural control during single-leg standing. Fifteen healthy young participants performed SS, DS, or no stretching (control). The stretch condition consisted of four sets lasting 30 s each. The control condition was a rest with standing for 210 s. Center of pressure (COP) displacement was measured using a force plate before and after each intervention to assess postural control during the single-leg standing task. The COP area, COP velocity, and anteroposterior (COP) and mediolateral (COP) range were calculated. DS significantly decreased in the COP range (21.5 ± 4.1 to 19.0 ± 2.5 mm;  = 0.02), COP velocity (33.8 ± 7.6 to 29.8 ± 6.5 mm/s;  < 0.01), and COP area (498.6 ± 148.3 to 393.3 ± 101.1 mm;  < 0.01), whereas SS did not change in the COP parameters (COP area 457.2 ± 108.3 to 477.8 ± 106.1 mm, = .49; COP velocity 31.2 ± 4.2 to 30.7 ± 5.8 mm/s,  = 0.60; COP 25.4 ± 3.1 to 25.3 ± 3.2 mm,  = 0.02; COP 20.7 ± 3.3 to 21.1 ± 2.5 mm, = 0.94). Therefore, DS of the plantar flexors enhances postural control during single-leg standing and may be effective for both injury prevention and performance enhancement.