The Use Of Stretching As Part Of A Thorough Warm-Up

The use of certain types of stretching as part of a warm-up has been shown to impair performances requiring strength, speed, agility, and power. Enhancing the athlete’s range of motion and the perception about reducing the risk of injury are rationales for including flexibility exercises in the warm-up period. The focus of this paper is to discuss the different types of flexibility exercises in light of their impact on performance and range of motion. Based on a review of different types of flexibility exercises, this paper will offer some guidelines for the design of a warm-up that will minimize the potential for performance impairment while helping to enhance the athlete’s range of motion.