Acute Effects of Dynamic Stretching and Foam Rolling Warm-Up Protocols on Certain Performance Parameters in Canoeists

This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of warm-up protocols involving dynamic stretching (DS) and foam rolling (FR) on specific performance parameters in canoe athletes. By examining the individual and combined effects of these two warm-up methods on performance, the study sought to provide a scientific basis for identifying the most effective warm-up strate-gy. A total of 13 volunteer flatwater canoe athletes (age: 13.07±1.32 years; training age: 3.07±1.32 years; height: 1.60±0.11 cm; body weight: 51.07±11.96 kg; body mass index: 19.61±2.79 kg/m²) participated in the study. The research employed a randomized, crossover, counterbalanced ex-perimental design and was conducted over three test days with 48-hour intervals. On each test day, participants were randomly assigned to one of three warm-up protocols: FR only, DS only, or a combination of FR+DS. Following each warm-up protocol, performance tests including ver-tical jump, visual reaction time, flexibility, back and leg strength, and balance were conducted. Additionally, the Borg Scale (RPE) was used to assess perceived exertion, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was administered to rate delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Differences be-tween variables were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. The results revealed no statis-tically significant differences among the groups in terms of vertical jump, anaerobic power, back and leg strength, balance, RPE, VAS, or visual reaction time values (p>0.05). However, a statisti-cally significant difference was observed in flexibility values between the FR and FR+DS groups (p