Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the acute effects of static passive and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching techniques on agility, speed, and lower-extremity explosive power in youth basketball players. Methods: Twenty male basketball players were randomized as passive and PNF groups. A single session of passive or PNF stretching techniques was applied to each group on the hamstring, quadriceps and calf group muscles. Outcome measurements consisted of the T Agility Test for agility, the 30-Meter Sprint Test for speed, the Standing Long Jump Test and the Lateral Jump Test for lower-extremity explosive power. Results: In within-group comparisons, statistically significant improvements were found in the passive group in all tests (p0.05). In the PNF group, a significant improvement was found only in the T Agility Test in within-group comparisons (p=0.05). In the between-group comparison, no statistical difference was found between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, static passive stretching before activity may have a greater effect on lower-extremity explosive power compared to PNF stretching. Additionally, PNF stretching improved agility, and did not cause any negative acute effects on speed and explosive strength. In the future, we think that conducting studies on how long the positive or negative acute effects of stretching techniques continue will be important for warm-up programs.

Leg-spring hysteresis quantifies the mechanical energy dissipated within the force–length loop during ground contact and serves as a proxy for stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) efficiency. Whether international-level track-and-field athletes and club-level multi-sport athletes differ in their hysteresis responses to increasing drop height, and whether hysteresis predicts jump height, remains unclear. Forty athletes (15 international-level, 25 club-level) performed bilateral (BLJ), dominant-leg (DOM), and non-dominant-leg (NDOM) drop jumps from 0.26 m and 0.42 m. Three-dimensional kinematics (500 Hz) and ground reaction forces were used to compute leg-spring stiffness, hysteresis, and jump height. Significant group × drop-height interactions emerged for hysteresis in all three conditions (η²p = 0.647, 0.507, 0.466; p < .001): international-level athletes became increasingly negative (greater SSC enhancement) at 0.42 m, whereas club-level athletes showed positive hysteresis (net dissipation). Between-group hysteresis differences at 0.42 m were large (DOM d = −1.73; NDOM d = −1.95), and jump height was consistently higher in international-level athletes (d = 1.14–1.77). Pooled across groups, hysteresis was associated with jump height (R² = 0.44–0.60), although this estimate is inflated by caliber differences and within-group associations were moderate and condition-dependent. Leg-spring hysteresis is a mechanically meaningful and practically relevant discriminator of reactive-jumping capacity.

Leg-spring hysteresis, the mechanical energy dissipated within the force–length loop during ground contact, is a whole-limb, indirect indicator of stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) function. Whether international-level track-and-field and club-level multi-sport athletes differ in hysteresis responses to drop height, and whether hysteresis is associated with jump height, remains unclear. Here, 40 athletes (15 international-level, 25 club-level) performed bilateral (BLJ), dominant-leg (DOM), and non-dominant-leg (NDOM) drop jumps from 0.26 to 0.42 m. Hysteresis and jump height were computed from three-dimensional kinematics (500 Hz) and ground reaction forces. Group × drop-height interactions were significant for hysteresis in all conditions (partial eta-squared, η²p = 0.647, 0.507, 0.466; p < 0.001): international-level athletes became increasingly negative (net active energy contribution) at 0.42 m, whereas club-level athletes became positive (net dissipation). Between-group differences at 0.42 m were large (Cohen’s d = −1.73, DOM; −1.95, NDOM); jump height was also higher in international-level athletes (d = 1.14–1.77). Pooled, hysteresis was associated with jump height (coefficient of determination, R² = 0.44–0.60), although caliber differences inflate this estimate, and within-group associations were weaker. Hysteresis discriminated reactive-jumping capacity beyond jump height alone; because competitive level was confounded with sport discipline and sex, these differences should not be attributed to caliber per se.

Bu araştırmanın amacı, kısa süreli yer ve aletli pilates egzersizlerinin kadınlarda vücut, esneklik, abdominal kas dayanıklılığı ve patlayıcı kuvvet üzerindeki etkilerini karşılaştırmak ve hangi pilates yönteminin bu parametreleri geliştirmede daha etkili olduğunu ortaya koymaktır. Araştırmaya, yaş ortalaması 31,74±10,05 olan ve en az bir aylık yer pilates deneyimine sahip 32 sağlıklı kadın gönüllü katılmıştır. Katılımcılar randomize olarak yer pilatesi (n=16) ve aletli pilates (n=16) gruplarına ayrılmıştır. Her iki grup, haftada 4 gün olmak üzere toplam 10 seanslık standart pilates egzersiz programına katılmıştır. Egzersiz öncesi ve sonrası; vücut kompozisyonu [vücut ağırlığı (kg), VKİ (kg/m²), yağ oranı (%), kas kütlesi (kg)], alt ekstremite esnekliği [aktif diz fleksiyonu, düz bacak kaldırma], abdominal kas dayanıklılığı ve dikey sıçrama yüksekliği ölçülmüştür. Yer pilatesi grubunda, vücut ağırlığında (63,06 ± 10,52 kg → 62,13 ± 10,06 kg; p = 0,001), yağ oranında, kas kütlesinde ve VKİ’de istatistiksel olarak anlamlı azalmalar gözlenmiştir (p 0,05). Her iki grupta da ADF ve DBK testlerinde sağ ve sol bacak esneklik düzeylerinde anlamlı artışlar elde edilmiştir (p <0,05). Ayrıca, abdominal kas dayanıklılığı ve dikey sıçrama yüksekliği parametrelerinde her iki grupta da anlamlı gelişmeler kaydedilmiştir. Sonuç olarak bu bulgular, kısa süreli (10 seanslık) pilates egzersizlerinin kadın bireylerde fiziksel uygunluk bileşenlerini geliştirmede etkili olabileceğini ve aletli pilatesin özellikle kas koruma ve yağ kaybı açısından yer pilatesine kıyasla daha avantajlı olabileceğini göstermektedir.

Uzun, S, Kahraman, MY, Sanli, G, Tatar, Y, and Gercek, N. The effect of different upper extremity plyometric exercises on scapulothoracic muscle activations in female volleyball players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2026—This study investigated the EMG activity ratios of the scapulothoracic musculature during selected upper extremity plyometric exercises to identify those most effective for promoting scapular stabilization in female volleyball players. Thirty-five female volleyball players (age: 17.34 ± 2.36 years, height: 174.79 ± 6.88 cm, body mass: 63.09 ± 6.92 kg) participated. Surface EMG was recorded from the upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), and lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA) during 8 bilateral plyometric exercises categorized as open-kinetic chain and closed-kinetic chain (CKC). EMG data were normalized to maximal voluntary isometric contractions, and UT/MT, UT/LT, and UT/SA activation ratios were calculated to evaluate scapular stabilization. Significant differences ( p < 0.01) and a large effect size ( η ² = 0.254) were found in activation ratios across the exercises. The Supine Med-Ball Chest Pass demonstrated the lowest overall activation ratios among the exercises (UT/MT = 138.21%, UT/LT = 77.59%, UT/SA = 22.59%). In addition, Ground Med-Ball Throw and Wall Med-Ball Chest Pass exercises demonstrated lower UT/SA ratios (39.22 and 45.21%, respectively; p < 0.001), suggesting reduced UT activation and increased SA engagement. Conversely, plyometric push-up variations showed higher UT/SA ratios (112.77 and 103.81%; p < 0.001), indicating a less favorable scapular muscle activation profile. Exercises performed in the supine position and at lower shoulder flexion angles elicited superior scapular stabilization muscle activation patterns compared with those performed in standing and higher overhead arm positions. Open-kinetic chain exercises generally demonstrated more favorable muscle activation ratios than CKC exercises. These findings may guide practitioners in selecting plyometric exercises that promote favorable scapular muscle activation patterns to improve scapular control in volleyball players.