Acute effects of static stretching of upper arm and forearm on the accuracy of free throws in basketball

Abstract

Background: Free throws are a very important element in modern basketball. There are many studies focused on different aspects ranging from variability in the mechanics of throwing at various skill levels to the influence of free throws on the results of games. Objective: Since the authors of the present study noticed that some players during a game apply static stretching of shooting arm as a preparation to perform the free throw, we wanted to question the justification of such procedure prior to the performance of free throws. The purpose of this study was to determine an effect of submaximal 15 seconds static stretching of the upper arm (m. triceps brachii) and forearm (m. flexor carpi radialis) on the accuracy of free throws in basketball. Methods: Participants of the present study were 100 basketball players; mean age was 18.2 ± 2.54 years. The sample was divided into two groups -players with higher (n = 70; 6.83 ± 1.83 hours/week) and lower number (n = 30; 4.17 ± 0.48 hours/week) of training sessions per week. Furthermore, we compared separately experienced (n = 47; 12.2 ± 0.55 years) and less experienced basketball players (n = 53; 6.4 ± 0.45 years). The procedure purported that every player performs five free throws without prior stretching, five free throws immediately after 15 seconds of static stretching of upper arm muscle (m. triceps brachii), and five free throws after 15 seconds of static stretching of the forearm (m. flexor carpi radialis). Results: Fifteen seconds of static stretching of the upper arm and forearm muscles had a negative influence on the accuracy of free throw shooting in basketball. Players with a higher number of training sessions per week showed better tolerance to this negative influence. Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that is not useful to apply static stretching of the triceps brachii and flexor carpi radialis muscles just before the execution of free throws.

An Explorative Investigation of the Warm-up Practices of Professional and Amateur Rugby League Players

“…However, through further analysis of professional and amateur player protocols via the focus groups, it was apparent that all but one of the amateur players took part in simple jogging activities as a preparatory activity whereas, the professional players incorporated a ball handling drill into their preparatory activity. The implementation of a ball handling drill, whilst simultaneously running at a submaximal pace, may have additive benefits to essential coordination patterns needed for a complex sport such as Rugby League, in additional to the desired effect of increasing core temperature (6,16,18,34,42). This is in accordance, with recommendations regarding the inclusion of skill based 'pulse raising' activities at the initiation of a warm-up protocol (20).…”

“…Pringle et al (34) recorded significantly faster 40 m sprint times within elite Rugby League players performing a 16 min high intensity warm-up compared to when they performed a lower intensity 22 min warmup (5.26 s v 5.34 s, P = 0.033). The authors concluded, that a warm-up high in intensity and a maximum of sixteen min in duration will benefit the athlete due to an increase in core temperature and blood flow to the musculature (12,34,42). In addition, Frikha et al (14) discovered that an active warm-up of 15 min resulted in significantly greater peak power and mean power in the Wingate test compared to an active warm-up lasting 20 min.…”

“…Then subsequently sport-specific Rugby League practice would commonly follow static stretching. Research has identified that static stretching can have a detrimental effect on certain physical attributes such as strength, power, speed and agility (8,9,23,29,32,37,42). However, when a warm-up including static stretching is followed up by a dynamic stretching, the impairments created by static stretching may be reduced (7,37).…”

“…It is commonly accepted that a wellconstructed warm-up protocol can aid performance, however, certain elements within a general warm-up protocol have come under critique (12,18,34). Researchers have reported impairments in maximal dynamic strength, jumping performance, sprinting and agility in sporting participants when acute bouts of static stretching are implemented into a warm-up protocol (4,8,9,23,28,29,42). However, the incorporation of dynamic warm-up protocols have generally led to significant benefits in the aforementioned physical qualities (10,11,12).…”

“…Although static stretching has been documented to impair physical attributes, many of which are desirable to possess for Rugby League match-play (4,8,9,23,28,29,42), a major consideration when playing a sport such as Rugby League is the ability to avoid injury (16). Static stretching has previously been associated with an increase in range of movement (5,21).…”