Effect of static active stretching for 30 s on anaerobic power evaluated by Wingate test

Stretching is performed with or without assistance when individuals warm up prior to physical activity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 30 s of static active stretching on anaerobic power using the Wingate test (WT). Ten healthy men performed the WT under two different conditions: after performing 30 s of active static stretching (SS-condition) or after sitting in a chair (CON-condition). During the SS-condition, participants performed three stretching exercises for the hamstrings and quadriceps. Participants stretched the targeted muscle slowly until it reached its most comfortable position and maintained the position for 30 s. The WT was performed using an electromagnetic bicycle ergometer. Participants were instructed to pedal as fast as possible against a load corresponding to 7.5% of their body mass. Although peak performance (peak power and peak revolutions per minute) during the WT did not differ significantly between the CON- and SS-conditions, the mean power in the SS-condition (579.2 ± 15.8 W) was significantly greater than that in the CON-condition (560.3 ± 17.8 W). These results suggest that although 30 s of active static stretching has no effect on peak performance, it increases mean power during WT. Further, heart rate in pre-WT was significantly higher in the SS-condition (96 ± 5 bpm) than in the CON-condition (63 ± 2 bpm). Therefore, increased HR by active static stretching might elicit an aerobic warm-up effect.