WEIGHT TRAINING EXERCISE AND STATIC STRETCHING: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

AIM Many researchers have studied the relationship between acute static stretching (SS) and muscle strength exercises, highlighting a decrease in performance. In contrast, SS used in the long term would appear to have an adverse effect, though this has been poorly investigated. To investigate if static stretching (SS) exercises lasting 15 seconds, inserted between sets of exercises with weights during the course of an eight-week training program, can change muscle strength. METHODS This research analyzed 19 males who regularly engaged in weight training. They were divided into two groups: GS and GNS. The experimental group (GS), composed of 9 participants (aged 32±7 years, weight 75±8 kg, height 173±6 cm, BMI 25±1,77), performed the SS between sets. The control group (GNS), consisting of 10 participants (age 33±5 years old, weight 75±8 kg, height 177±8 cm, BMI 24,6±1,95) did not perform the SS. All the participants involved had been weight training for about 5 years, but without static stretching exercises. RESULTS GS highlighted the following situation: barbell bench press (P<0,05, +49%); front lat pulldown (P<0,01, +69%); barbell curl (P<0,05, +80%); barbell shoulder press (P<0,05, +61%); push down (P<0,01, +86%); squat (P<0,05; +122%); Finally, the flexibility test results were: sit and reach test (P<0,01; +10%); shoulders flexibility test (P<0,05, +18%). In GNS the results were: barbell bench press (P<0,01, +64%); front lateral pulldown (P<0,01, +76%); barbell curls (P<0,01, +92%); barbell shoulder press (P<0,01, +65%); push down (P<0,01, +94%); squat (P<0,01, +115%); sit and reach test (P<0,01; +8%); shoulders flexibility test was not significant. CONCLUSION The chronic use of static stretching inserted between sets of weight training exercises does not inhibit the expression of muscular strength.