The efficacy of an 8 week calf muscle stretching programme on vertical jump height between male athletes having ankle equinus and those having normal ankle range of motion.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of an 8 week calf muscle stretching programme (consisting of dynamic and static stretching exercises) on vertical jump height and ankle range of motion (ROM), in two groups of athletes. Twenty male athletes who trained martial arts (aged 18 to 40 years), were recruited from the 'Shiroi Tora Shotokan Karate Dojo' at Qormi and divided into two groups. Both groups consisted often athletes and were divided into 'Normal-Group!' (athletes who have ankle ROM> or= to 10°) and 'Equinus Group 2' (athletes having ankle ROM <10°). After a brief warming up, the athletes' ankle ROM was measured while the knee was flexed and also extended using a goniometer. Their vertical jump height was also measured, using the jump and reach test (Sargent's Test). Both tests were repeated three times and an average was taken. A stretching programme which consisted of four stretching exercises (dynamic and static stretching) were assigned to both groups to be performed twice daily for the duration of 8 weeks. All athletes were then measured again for their ankle ROM and vertical jump height after the 8 weeks duration. The results of the present study concluded that static and dynamic stretching involving the ankle joint complex, improved ROM to a minimum extent within the two groups. However although not significant, it appeared that the 'Equinus Group' had far greater improvement in ROM than the other group. Vertical jump height before and after the 8 weeks stretching programme had no significant change. The results of this study also suggest that athletes having limited ankle ROM ('Equinus Group') might be more able at generating power through the muscle for vertical jump height. However more research is needed to investigate this property with a better sample population. It is recommended that future research must investigate the effect of stretching intensity and duration on force production and ROM change and try to establish a dose response relationship between the stretching programme and its results on both vertical jump height and ROM.