Effect of joint distraction exercises with elastic band during warm-up on maximum strength performance in male bodybuilders: A cross-sectional study

We aimed to evaluate the effect of joint distraction exercises with elastic band as a warm-up method versus an only standard warm-up on lower-body maximal strength performance in male bodybuilders and to determine possible moderator variables affecting performance. In the study, seventeen male bodybuilders who met the inclusion criteria were evaluated. The bodybuilders performed two sets of four joint distraction exercises with 30 seconds of rest following the standardized warm-up versus the standardized warm-up only. The maximal strength performance of bodybuilders was measured with an interval of 96 hours. Joint distraction exercises with the elastic band following the standardized warm-up moderately increased lower-body maximal strength performance of the bodybuilders (p = 0.00; Cohen’d = 0.45, 95%CI = 0.30-0.60). In addition, age (p = 0.34, β = 0.03), height (p = 0.92, β = 0.00), body weight (p = 0.61, β = 0.00), training experience (p = 0.66, β = -0.02) and body mass index (p = 0.55, β = 0.01) were not moderator variables for this training method. Our study showed that joint distraction exercises with elastic bands could acutely improve lower-body maximal strength performance in male bodybuilders regardless of anthropometric characteristics. Practitioners and coaches may prefer this training method before strength training to increase the strength performance of their athletes.