Hamstring Flexibility in Wushu Athletes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51224/SRXIV.294Keywords:
Flexibility, Wushu, Sit and Reach, StretchingAbstract
In this preprint we show a study that aimed to evaluate hamstring flexibility in young athletes practicing modern Taolu Wushu using the Sit and Reach test. Sixteen athletes who were members of the national team and 16 who were not part of the national team participated in this cross-sectional study. Descriptive statistics showed that the national team members had significantly higher flexibility levels than the non-members (p < 0.01, Cohen's d = 1.97). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the Sit and Reach test was a significant predictor of national team membership, with a pseudo-R2 of 0.52. These findings suggest that hamstring flexibility is an important factor for the selection of athletes to the national team in Wushu. Comparing our results to other studies in athletes, our findings are consistent with previous research showing that athletes who are part of national teams tend to have greater flexibility levels than those who are not selected. This study highlights the importance of hamstring flexibility in the selection process for national teams in modern Taolu Wushu. The Sit and Reach test is a simple and effective tool for evaluating hamstring flexibility in young athletes, and it may be used to identify potential national team members. Coaches may use this information to design training programs that focus on improving flexibility levels, which may lead to better athletic performance and success in competition.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Hector Toledo, Juan Sandoval, Ariel Mancilla, Erik Tan, Samuel Montalvo (Author)
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