Effects of static stretching on jumping ability: From physiological and functional aspects

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effect which static stretching exerts on jumping ability from two aspects: physiology and function. [Subjects] The subjects were 20 healthy students. [Methods] Before and after static stretching, latency of the stretch reflex as a physiological parameter, isokinetic muscle strength (60 deg/sec and 240 deg/sec) as a functional parameter, and vertical jump and forward jump as jumping ability were measured. [Results] In a compaison of each measured value before and after static stretching, after stretching, latency to stretch reflex appearance, muscle strength at 60 deg/sec, height of vertical jump and width of forward jump were decreased significantly. [Conclusion] Jumping ability fell after performing static stretching. As an explanation we suggest that muscle strength decreased accompanying the muscle tension fall, which was based on the inhibition mechanism of the central nervous system, since the CNS regulates muscle tension based on the receptivity fall of a muscle spindle and the contribution of the Golgi tendon organ, in addition to muscle contraction by extension of the time to stretch reflex appearance due to arising the delay of timing.