Effect of 8-week dynamic vs. static stretching on sprint performance and injury prevention in college students

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. Stretching is a fundamental component of athletic warm-up routines. Both dynamic stretching (DS) and static stretching (SS) are widely practiced. However, their comparative effects on sprint performance and injury prevention in adolescent sprinters remain insufficiently explored, particularly in South Asian settings. This study aimed to compare the effects of DS and SS on sprint performance and injury incidence among adolescent male athletes enrolled in postsecondary colleges in Pakistan. Materials and Methods. A total of 36 male postsecondary sprinters aged 17–19 were randomly assigned to either DS (n = 18) or SS (n = 18) groups. The 8-week intervention included five sessions per week of assigned stretching protocols following a standardized warm-up. Sprint performance was assessed using 20m and 40m dash times recorded via electronic timing gates. Injury incidence was monitored and categorized by type and severity. Statistical analyses included paired and independent t-tests, ANOVA, and chi-square tests (p < 0.05). Results. The DS group demonstrated significant improvements in sprint performance (20m: -7.2%, 40m: -5.8%, p < 0.001), while the SS group showed minimal change. Injury incidence was 60% lower in the DS group compared to SS (4 vs. 10 injuries; p = 0.038). Effect sizes indicated a large impact of DS on both performance and injury prevention outcomes. Conclusions. Dynamic stretching was more effective than static stretching in improving sprint performance and reducing injury incidence among adolescent male sprinters. These findings support the integration of dynamic stretching into collegiate warm-up protocols and provide practical recommendations for injury prevention and performance optimization in physical education and sports training programs.