title: Acute effect of a ballistic and a static stretching exercise bout on flexibility and maximal strength.
abstract: Different stretching techniques have been used during warm-up routines. However, these routines may decrease force production. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effect of a ballistic and a static stretching protocol on lower-limb maximal strength. Fourteen physically active women (169.3 +/- 8.2 cm; 64.9 +/- 5.9 kg; 23.1 +/- 3.6 years) performed three experimental sessions: a control session (estimation of 45 degrees leg press one-repetition maximum [1RM]), a ballistic session (20 minutes of ballistic stretch and 45 degrees leg press 1RM), and a static session (20 minutes of static stretch and 45 degrees leg press 1RM). Maximal strength decreased after static stretching (213.2 +/- 36.1 to 184.6 +/- 28.9 kg), but it was unaffected by ballistic stretching (208.4 +/- 34.8 kg). In addition, static stretching exercises produce a greater acute improvement in flexibility compared with ballistic stretching exercises. Consequently, static stretching may not be recommended before athletic events or physical activities that require high levels of force. On the other hand, ballistic stretching could be more appropriate because it seems less likely to decrease maximal strength.
authors.affiliation: School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Reury Frank Pereira
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bacurau
authors.forename: Gizele Assis
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ugrinowitsch
authors.forename: Valmor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tricoli
authors.forename: Leonardo Ferreira
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Marcelo Saldanha
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Aoki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D018583:Pliability; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult