A Prophylactic Effect of PNF Stretching on Mechanical Parameters of Agility, Squat and Continuous Jumps following Exercise-induced Muscle Damage

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)stretching combined with plyometric training on agility and Squat/Continuous jumps in non-athlete male students. Method and Materials: Thirty non-athlete male students were volunteered to participate in this study. Participants were assigned into control (n=21) and intervention (n=21) groups. Dependent variables were recorded at baseline and 48 hours after post-exercise. A Vicon (200 Hz) motion analysis system with six T-Series cameras and two Kistler force plates (1000 HZ) were used to record kinematic and kinetic data. A two-way repeated measure ANOVA (group x EIMD) was used to compare the data between the two groups. Findings: The agility in the intervention group was higher than in the plyometric group at 48 hours (P=0.015). Within-group comparison of agility showed a difference in the plyometric PNF group from pre- to post-training (P=0.003). There were no significant differences in Squat jump test parameters from pre- to post-test between groups (P˃0.05). Also, within-group comparison of continuous jump of variables (maximum vertical displacement and power average) showed no difference in the plyometric PNF group at 48 hours (P˃0.05). Conclusion: A prophylactic effect of PNF stretching on agility and components of continuous jumps following exercise-induced muscle damage was useful. Therefore, PNF can be useful with a preventative method in reducing the symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage in some functional parameters of the exercise.