How Do Different Upper Body Stretches Affect Range of Motion of the Shoulder and the Speed of a Lacrosse Shot?

Esser, Chelsea

How Do Different Upper Body Stretches Affect Range of Motion of the Shoulder and the Speed of a Lacrosse Shot?

Author(s)

Esser, Chelsea

Date Issued

April 3, 2023

Abstract

In the competitive world of athletics, individuals or teams are constantly competing to be the best and believe things like training routines, nutrition, and attitude will get them to the top. Part of those training routines usually include some sort of stretching routine, but what constitutes a good and beneficial routine? The purpose of this research is to find out which type static, dynamic or both - will lead to the greatest shoulder range of motion (ROM) and fastest lacrosse shot. The Allegheny College Women’s and Men’s Lacrosse team was given three stretching routines to complete for four days at a time and in a different order. ROM and velocity were measured at the beginning of data collection and at the end of each stretching regimen. Flexion was the only range of motion position that was significantly different, as the baseline measurement was higher than the post-static stretching measurement. Extension, internal rotation and external rotation, along with the lacrosse shot velocity were not significantly different across stretching regimes. The insignificance of the stretching routines and their corresponding ROM and velocity measurements suggest that individuals can perform whichever type of stretching they prefer and obtain the same results.

Major

Biology

First Reader(s)

Whitenack, Lisa B.