Kinematics Analysis: The Acute Effect of Different Stretching Methods on Dynamic Range of Motion of Lower Extremity Joints during Soccer Instep Kicking

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of static and dynamic stretching within a pre-exercise warm-up on angular displacement identified as dynamic range of motion (DROM) of hip, knee, and ankle joints during instep kicking in less and more experienced soccer players. The kicking motions of dominant legs were captured from fifteen professional adult male soccer players using 6 infrared cameras at 200 Hz. Lower extremity joints DROM at instep kicking phases after different warm-ups protocols consisting of static, dynamic stretching, and no stretching, captured to analysing. Less experienced players showed significant differences in DROM after the dynamic stretching compared with the static stretching relative to the no stretching method in hip and knee joints. More experienced players showed significant difference in DROM after the dynamic stretching compared with the static stretching relative to the no stretching method in hip, knee, and ankle joints. There was no significant difference in DROM between less and more experienced after the dynamic stretching and also after with the static stretching relative to the no stretching method. We concluded that dynamic stretching during warm-ups, as compared to static stretching, is probably most effective as preparation for the DROM required in soccer.