Abstract:

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Cyclic and Static Stretching on flexibility and performance parameter (20m sprint-Vertical Jump) parameters in male soccer players. A total of 63 professional soccer players aged 15-17 years participated in this study. Participants were randomly divided into three groups that were cyclic stretching, static stretching and control group. In static stretching group were applied 30-seconds and 2-sets whereas in cyclic stretching group 10-seconds, 3-rept. and 2-sets were applied. In both groups stretching and rest periods were equally applied totally. Soccer players' flexibility levels, vertical jump and 20m sprint performances were measured twice before and after the practice. In the results of different stretching methods, there was not any change in vertical jump and sprint performances in the cyclic stretching group whereas there was a statistically significant difference in both vertical jump and sprint performance were effected negative direction in the static stretching group. When we compared the pre-test and post-test data, level of flexibility significantly increased in both static and cyclic group. Although there was significant difference flexibility, vertical jump and sprint performance between the static group and the control group but there were not any difference between the cyclic stretching and the static stretching groups. Despite increased of flexibility; there was not any significant difference between control group and cyclic group too. The static stretching method affected sprint and vertical jump performance negatively while the cyclic stretching method did not any change on the this performance parameters. Both cyclic and static stretching caused an increase in the level of flexibility. As a result, it is better to use the cyclic stretching method instead of the static stretching method in the warming period.

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