The effect of static and dynamic muscle stretching as part of warm-up procedures on stretching on isokinetic strength, functional movement screen, flexibility and agility in Korean national foil fencers

Introduction

Fencing is played on a narrow and long piste means a fencing stadium. To win, a fencing match must be scored 15 or higher than the opponent player for three minutes and three rounds. When playing, fencing players repeatedly perform very fast offense and defense changes, direction changes, and momentary movements. In this regard, previous studies on fencing fitness factors have reported that agility, quickness and visual-motor coordination are important (Borysiuk & Waskiewicz, 2008; Gutierrez-Davila, Rojas, Antonio, & Navarro, 2013). Furthermore, anaerobic power is important for fencers (Cerizza & Roi, 1994; Turner et al., 2013). Above all, fencers are important for stability and mobility (Czajkowski, 2009; Raghavendra, Murthy, 2010; O'Connor, 1980). Since fencing mainly uses one side, there is a muscle imbalance, so it is important to improve stability, mobility, and muscle balance.

FMS has been used to measure essential movement patterns in dynamic and practical way as physical examination (Cook, Burton, & Hoogenboom, 2006; Schiffman & Zebas, 1997; Chang, Hsueh, & Lo, 2018). FMS includes seven actions, and can be checked joint movement, balance, symmetry, and core stability in detail. If the score is 14 or less based on a total of 21, it can be said that the risk of injury is high (Cook, 2010). Some studies demonstrated differences between uninjured and injured participants in FMS total scores and individual FMS test scores such as deep squat (Butler et al., 2013; Chorba et al., 2010; Peate et al., 2007). Prior researcher reported that experienced rugby athletes with FMS composite scores 14 or less were significantly more likely to sustain time-loss injury in a competitive season than those scoring above 14 (Rodrigues et al., 2017). Muscle strength imbalance associated with injury risk (Edouard et al., 2013; Knapik et al., 1991), is likely to negatively affect athletic performance (Maly, Zahalka, & Mala, 2015). Isokinetic dynamometers is useful for evaluating the lower extremity strength parameters such as peak torque, hamstring / quadriceps muscle strength ratio (H : Q ratio) etc. (Schons et al., 2019; Schons et al., 2018). In athletes including fencing players, a balanced muscle strength ratio between the agonist and antagonist muscle groups is very important for stability and prevention of knee injury (Aagaard et al., 1998; Dauty, Menu, & Fouasson-Chailloux, 2020).

Stretching such as static and dynamic will be effective to improve stability and mobility (Bradley, Olsen, & Portas, 2007; Herbert & Gabriel, 2002; Nelson, Kokkonen, Arnall, & Li, 2012). Stretching improves the stretch ability of muscles and tendon to enable accurate and smooth movement. Although the mechanism for the effect of stretching on mobility is not clear, Fukunaga et al. (1983) reported that muscle blood flow tended to increase after stretching, and Mense and Stahnke (1983) reported that C-fiber activity was low during muscle contraction without ischemia. Particularly, dynamic stretching is necessary for proper authentic movement to occur adequate stability, mobility, and motor control. Improving the range of joint motion will improve the function of the nervous system, which will aid performance (Cook et al., 2010; Matsuo et al., 2013; McGill & Karpowicz, 2009). Overall, regulrar stretching is thought to help mobility, stability, and flexibility improvement in Korean national fencing team athletes. However, it is currently insufficient to apply systematic stretching programs in the field. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of fencing specific warm-up program based on stretching on functional movement screen, isokinetic strength, flexibility, and agility in Korean national foil fencers.

Methods

Results

Discussion

The purpose of warm-up and stretching routines is to increase the range of motion of skeletal muscles and joint connecting tissue (Decoster, Cleland, Altieri, & Russell, 2005; Wiktorsson-Moller, Öberg, Ekstrand, & Gillquist, 1983). Some studies have reported that stretching, form rolling and heating individually will an increase in tissue extensibility (Halperin et al., 2014; Knight et al., 2001). Also, previous studies have suggested that stretching routines such as static and dynamic will be effective to improve mobility and stability of joint (Bradley et al., 2007; Herbert et al., 2002; Nelson et al., 2012). In this study, FMS scores improved significantly after post-test compared to pre-test. These results demonstrate that the fencing specific warm-up program focus on stretching improved tissue extensibility, range of motion, of skeletal muscles and joint connecting tissue of joint and consequently stability and mobility of joint. Fencing players who mainly use one side have improved mobility and stability through stretching (Swanson, 2006).

Muscle imbalance is associated with injury risk (Schons et al., 2019; Schons et al., 2018). For fencers, balanced muscle strength ratio between the agonist and antagonist muscle groups, and balanced muscle strength ratio between the left- and right-side muscle groups in agonist can be very important to prevent injury and minimize injury (Aagaard et al., 1998; Dauty et al., 2020; Daneshjoo, Mokhtar, Rahnama, & Yusof, 2012). Isokinetic muscle strength provides reliable information about the muscle strength level and muscle imbalance. The study reported that the program improved the muscular strength ratio. Daneshjoo et al. (2012) demonstrated that injury preventive warm-up programs improved conventional strength ratio and fast/slow speed ratio. In the present study, the 60°/sec flexor peak toque in dominant side muscle strength increased significantly post-test compared to pre-test, and the non-dominant side showed a significant trend post-test compared to pre-test. The 60°/sec extensor peak toque in dominant side muscle strength showed a significant trend post-test compared to pre-test. while no significant difference in the warm-up program for the 60°/sec extensor peak toque in non-dominant side muscle strength between pre- and post-test were found. There was no significant effectiveness in the warm-up program for the dominant and non-dominant ratio in 60 °/sec extensor, and no significant effectiveness in the warm-up program for the dominant and non-dominant ratio in 60 °/sec flexor. There were no significant differences in the 60 °/sec flexor/extensor ratio in dominant and non-dominant side between post-test compared to pre-test. As a result of this study, it is generally meaningful to improve extensor and flexor pre toque. Moreover, no significance was noted for the 60 °/sec dominant and non-dominant ratio in flexor and extensor, however, it was meaningful that the value was less than 10%. Less than 10% means that the dominant non-dominant side muscles are balanced (Humac, 2003). On the other hand, ACL injury can be caused by weakening of the hamstring muscles (Cheung, Smith, & Wong, 2012). Steindler developed that the strength ratio of the hamstring (flexors) / quadriceps (extensors) muscle should be about the rate of 2:3 (i.e Hcon / Qcon of 0.66) (Steindler, 1977). In other words, in order to prevent ACL injury, quadriceps muscle strength should be superior to hamstring muscle strength. This study proved that the fencing specific warm-up program focus on stretching improved muscle strength ratio through knee flexor muscle strength improvement.

In this study, the Change-step jump increased significantly post-test compared to pre-test, and the trunk forward flexion increased significantly post-test compared to pre-test. While no significant difference in the warm-up program for the front-rear step and the trunk backward extension between pre- and post-test were found. Bradley and Portas (2007) presented that flexibility and strength have been considered to be essential in improving sports techniques, performance. Other studies have reported that securing stability provides an advantage for performance (Reed, 2012). For this reason, it can be considered that the positive results of the physical fitness tests such as change-step jump, trunk forward flexion are due to the improvement of stability, mobility, and flexibility. However, this study has limitations in that the number of subjects is insufficient and there is no control group due to the characteristics of national team players. Therefore, it is necessary to verify the stretch effect including a large number of study subjects and control groups in the future.

Conclusions

This study shows that warm-up program based on stretching was effective for improving stability and mobility, flexibility. In conclusion, the program has had a positive impact on performance, such as strength and agility by improving stability, mobility and flexibility.