Effectiveness of Leg-Focused Static and Dynamic Stretching in Enhancing the Students' Lower Body Flexibility Performance

Flexibility, particularly in the lower extremities, is essential for optimal physical performance, injury prevention, and daily functional movement. Despite its importance, lower body flexibility is often neglected in physical education settings. To address this gap, a quasi-experimental study was conducted involving 60 Grade 12 students from a private school in Cagayan de Oro City during the Academic Year 2024–2025. Participants were grouped into leg-focused static stretching (lunge, butterfly stretch, and seated forward bend) and leg-focused dynamic stretching (high knees, walking lunges, and leg swings). The study used the Modified Sit-and-Reach Test to measure flexibility, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired-samples t-tests, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The results showed that both groups improved in lower body flexibility, with the static stretching group moving from a "Good" to a higher "Good" range, while the dynamic group improved more significantly to "Very Good." The data revealed that both static and dynamic stretching enhance lower-body flexibility, with dynamic stretching providing the most significant benefits. Flexibility programs may use either method or a combination of the two, depending on the activity's requirements.