Dynamic Stretching during Warm-Up Prior to Running

Warming up prior to running is important, preparing the body and musculoskeletal system for physical activity demands. As one of the risk factors for injuries is decreased muscle flexibility, stretching during warm-up prior to running is an integral part of a warm-up protocol. There are two types of stretching: static and dynamic. The main difference between them is the transition from stretching an isolated muscle group to functional stretching of a few muscle groups.

In recent years, there has been growing evidence that dynamic stretching is more effective than static stretching, and a better and safer method for preparing the athlete for physical activity. Various studies have found that after dynamic stretching, flexibility and muscle strength were higher than after static stretching, as well generating a positive effect on the athlete’s performance.

The studies that examined the effectiveness of dynamic stretching on athlete running performance will be discussed during the lecture, including the study methods and limitations.

There is a lack of studies in the literature examining the effectiveness of dynamic stretching on running distances longer then sprints, and further research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of different stretching protocols on long distance running performances, and on the potential reduction in risk for injury.