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329859
Effect of Performing WARM-up and Cool-DOWN Exercises on the Flexibility of the Calf and Hamstring PRIOR to a 50 Minute Workout


Monday, November 2, 2015

Lynn Anidi, DHSc, MBA, College of Graduate Health Studies, AT. Still University, Mesa, AZ
Denice Curtis, DDS, MPH, DHSc, Master of Public Health Program, Department of Public Health, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL
Warm up and cool-down exercises have long been used in exercise routines to enhance performance and reduce the risk of injury. The practice of warming up prior to exercise and cooling down after the exercise has ended has been strongly encouraged as a way to reduce the number of injuries sustained during physical activity; yet results are controversial.

Objectives: To assess the effect of 10 minute warm-up and cool-down exercises on the flexibility of the hamstring and calf of the exerciser, before and after stretching. 

Design: One-group pretest-posttest

Participants: Forty-five participants ranging in age from 30 to 65 years (M = 50.93, SD =11.54) participated in the study.  Main Outcome Measures: Flexibility of the calf and hamstring was measured using the Myrin Goniometer. The hamstring and calf flexibility scores were determined as the mean of two measurements of the left and right legs before and after the warm up and cool-down exercises.

Results: Significant differences in the flexibility of calf and hamstring were found after conducting warm-up and cool down exercises (p<0.05)

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the warm up and the cool down exercises may influence how well an exerciser progresses when stretching guidelines are followed.

Keywords: warm up, cool down, flexibility, calf, hamstring, Goniometer,

Learning Areas:

Occupational health and safety
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Assess the effect of 10 minute warm-up and cool-down exercises on the flexibility of the hamstring and calf of the exerciser, before and after stretching.

Keyword(s): Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a doctoral student at A.T. Still University, in Arizona. I am a few months away from completing my Doctorate degree. I conducted this study in 2014 as part of my Applied Research Project, a requisite for the degree.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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