title: The effects of a combined static-dynamic stretching protocol on athletic performance in elite Gaelic footballers: A randomised controlled crossover trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of three different static-dynamic stretching protocols on sprint and jump performance in Gaelic footballers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind, controlled, crossover trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sports Institute research environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen male elite level Gaelic footballers, aged 18-30 years, completed three stretching protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  Athletic performance was measured by countermovement jump height and power, and timed 10 m, 20 m, and 40 m sprints.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Static stretching reduced sprint speed by 1.1% over 40 m and 1.0% over 20 m. Static stretching also reduced countermovement jump height by 10.6% and jump power by 6.4%. When static stretching was followed by dynamic stretching, sprint speed improved by 1.0% over 20 m and 0.7% over 40 m (p < 0.05). The static - dynamic stretching protocol also improved countermovement jump height by 8.7% (p < 0.01) and power by 6.7% (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Static stretching reduces sprint speed and jump performance. Static stretching should be followed by dynamic stretching during warm-up to nullify any performance deficits caused by static stretching.
authors.affiliation: Sports Institute of Northern Ireland, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, N Ireland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: martinloughran@sini.co.uk.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loughran
authors.affiliation: Sports Institute of Northern Ireland, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, N Ireland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: philipglasgow@sini.co.uk.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Glasgow
authors.affiliation: Sports & Exercise Sciences, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, N Ireland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: c.bleakley@ulster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bleakley
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health and Rehabilitation Technologies (CHaRT), School of Health Sciences, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, N Ireland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: j.mcveigh@ulster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McVeigh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D012420:Running; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Athletic performance; Dynamic-stretching; Gaelic football; Static-stretching