Effects of PNF Stretching on Lower Extremity Joint Range of Motion and Muscular Function in Taekwondo Sparring Athletes

The purpose of this study has been to suggest various training methods to improve the performance of taekwondo sparring players. In this study, PNF stretching was performed as a warm-up exercise to confirm the functional improvement of the range of motion of the joints of the lower extremities and the isokinetic muscles of the competitive athletes, and to present it as a new training program. In this study, 20 men who had been practicing Taekwondo for more than 5 years and were registered as taekwondo sparring players were divided into 10 PNF stretching participants and 10 control groups. The lower limbs were used to measure the range of motion and isokinetic muscle function at the hip, knee, and ankle joints. PNF stretching was defined as 6 exercise methods and performed 5 times a week for 6 weeks, and was performed for 20 minutes as a warm-up exercise. The control group performed general warm-up exercises. For data processing in this study, paired t-test was used using SPSS 27.0. The criterion for statistical processing was α=.05. The results of this study are as follows: First, PNF stretching significantly improved the flexion and extension range of motion of the hip joint, and also showed significant improvement in isokinetic muscle function. No significant improvement was found in the control group. Second, PNF stretching significantly improved knee joint flexion and extension range of motion, but no significant improvement was found in isokinetic muscle function. No significant improvement was found in the control group. Third, PNF stretching significantly improved the ankle joint dorsiflexion/plantar flexion range of motion, but no significant improvement was found in isokinetic muscle function. No significant improvement was found in the control group.