Muscle architecture adaptations to static stretching training: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Key Points

1. Static stretching produces increases in joint range of motion by improving muscle fascicle length.

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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Variations in stretching intensity, duration, frequency, position, gender, training status, and experience have been connected to flexibility differences (1,2). The beneficial impact of static stretching on range of motion (ROM) improvement is well-recognized and supported by evidence of viscoelastic property changes and increased stretch tolerance from persistent flexibility training. Some fitness professionals are skeptical of static stretching's lasting effects, as they often rely on short-term study results.

This study aimed to address the discord and investigate static stretching's impact on fascicle length, angle, muscle thickness, and cross-sectional area, considering potential links to stretching volume and intensity.

Variations in stretching intensity, duration, frequency, position, gender, training status, and experience have been connected to flexibility differences.

The implementation of long-term stretching protocols also emerges as a crucial element in eliciting more pronounced morphological adaptations.

METHODS

• The review adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, searching four databases, relevant study references, and personal lists of the first author on ResearchGate and Google Scholar.

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