Jason P Green1, Sylvain G Grenier, Stuart M McGill. 1. Spine Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canda.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: General practice in many team sports is to have the athletes who do not start in a game sit on a bench while waiting to play. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a warm-up followed by bench rest on the stiffness of the lumbar spine in athletes. METHODS: Nine varsity-level volleyball players volunteered to have their lumbar-spine stiffness measured. The protocol consisted of an initial stiffness measurement followed by a 30-min warm-up, then another stiffness measurement, then 30 min of bench rest, and finally a third stiffness measurement. RESULTS: In general, lumbar spine stiffness increased as a result of bench rest after a warm-up. This effect was seen in both the spine extension and lateral bend axes but not in the flexion or axial twist axes. However, there was no decrease in stiffness associated with the active warm-up portion of the task. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that a warm-up followed by bench rest does lead to an increase in stiffness of the lumbar spine, suggesting this practice is not in the best interest of reducing the risk of back injury or optimal performance.
INTRODUCTION: General practice in many team sports is to have the athletes who do not start in a game sit on a bench while waiting to play. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a warm-up followed by bench rest on the stiffness of the lumbar spine in athletes. METHODS: Nine varsity-level volleyball players volunteered to have their lumbar-spine stiffness measured. The protocol consisted of an initial stiffness measurement followed by a 30-min warm-up, then another stiffness measurement, then 30 min of bench rest, and finally a third stiffness measurement. RESULTS: In general, lumbar spine stiffness increased as a result of bench rest after a warm-up. This effect was seen in both the spine extension and lateral bend axes but not in the flexion or axial twist axes. However, there was no decrease in stiffness associated with the active warm-up portion of the task. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that a warm-up followed by bench rest does lead to an increase in stiffness of the lumbar spine, suggesting this practice is not in the best interest of reducing the risk of back injury or optimal performance.
Authors: Pilar Sainz de Baranda; Antonio Cejudo; Victor Jesus Moreno-Alcaraz; Maria Teresa Martinez-Romero; Alba Aparicio-Sarmiento; Fernando Santonja-Medina Journal: PeerJ Date: 2020-01-02 Impact factor: 2.984
Authors: Pilar Sainz de Baranda; Antonio Cejudo; María Teresa Martínez-Romero; Alba Aparicio-Sarmiento; Olga Rodríguez-Ferrán; Mónica Collazo-Diéguez; José Hurtado-Avilés; Pilar Andújar; Fernando Santonja-Medina Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-04-09 Impact factor: 3.390