Over fifteen years ago I wrote an article, published in the Illinois Coaches Association TORCH Magazine, on conventional static stretching not being a benefit to subsequent high speed running. Many coaches still do some form of static stretching prior to workouts.

The Department of Kinesiology at LSU looked at this issue back in 2005. Their researchers looked at four specific stretching protocols: 1) no stretching on either leg, 2) both legs stretched, 3) forward leg in the starting position stretched, and 4) rear leg in the starting position stretched.

The data from their trial period revealed that the NS (no stretching) group produced the fastest 20 meter sprint times. There were no statistical differences between the other three stretching protocols. For me, this didn't come as a surprise.

The analysis, as provided in the NSCA Performance Training Journal by Greg Haff:

"Based upon the findings of this investigation the authors suggest that performing passive stretching exercises before sprinting activities can result in a significant decline in sprinting speed. Therefore, it is recommended that the use of passive stretching techniques be avoided by athletes prior to the performance of sprinting activities."

What did the trial subjects perform before their twenty meter trial sprints?

Their warm-up exercises consisted of an 800 meter jog, 4 X 30 forward skips, 4 X 30 side shuffles, and 4 X 30 backward skips. These are some of the activities we do in our Gravity Constant series. However, the number and kinds of exercises simply points out that some dynamic activity preceded the twenty meter sprints

The test subjects (eleven males and five females) were members of LSU's nationally ranked track team.

Ken Jakalski