Page 64 - 《运动与健康科学》(英文)2024年第2期

TaggedAPTARAEndTaggedAPTARAFigure Available online at www.sciencedirect.com

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Journal of Sport and Health Science 13 (2024) 186194

Review

TaggedAPTARAH1Chronic effects of stretching on range of motion with consideration of

potential moderating variables: A systematic review with meta-analysisTaggedAPTARAEnd
c
b
b
TaggedAPTARAPAndreas Konrad a,b , Shahab Alizadeh , Abdolhamid Daneshjoo , Saman Hadjizadeh Anvar ,
a
b
b
b
b
Andrew Graham , Ali Zahiri , Reza Goudini , Chris Edwards , Carina Scharf ,
b,
David George Behm *TaggedAPTARAEnd
a
TaggedAPTARAP Institute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, Graz University, Graz A-8010, Austria
b
School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7, Canada
c
Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman 76169-13439, Iran
TaggedAPTARAEnd Received 4 November 2022; revised 31 March 2023; accepted 10 May 2023
Available online 8 June 2023
2095-2546/Ó 2024 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Shanghai University of Sport. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
TaggedAPTARAPAbstract
Background: It is well known that stretch training can induce prolonged increases in joint range of motion (ROM). However, to date more infor-
mation is needed regarding which training variables might have greater influence on improvements in flexibility. Thus, the purpose of this meta-
analysis was to investigate the effects of stretch training on ROM in healthy participants by considering potential moderating variables, such as
stretching technique, intensity, duration, frequency, and muscles stretched, as well as sex-specific, age-specific, and/or trained state-specific
adaptations to stretch training.
Methods: We searched through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SportDiscus to find eligible studies and, finally, assessed the
results from 77 studies and 186 effect sizes by applying a random-effect meta-analysis. Moreover, by applying a mixed-effect model,
we performed the respective subgroup analyses. To find potential relationships between stretch duration or age and effect sizes, we
performed a meta-regression.
Results: We found a significant overall effect, indicating that stretch training can increase ROM with a moderate effect compared to the controls
2
(effect size = 1.002; Z = 12.074; 95% confidence interval: 1.165 to 0.840; p < 0.001; I = 74.97). Subgroup analysis showed a significant
difference between the stretching techniques (p = 0.01) indicating that proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and static stretching produced
greater ROM than did ballistic/dynamic stretching. Moreover, there was a significant effect between the sexes (p = 0.04), indicating that females
showed higher gains in ROM compared to males. However, further moderating analysis showed no significant relation or difference.
Conclusion: When the goal is to maximize ROM in the long term, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation or static stretching, rather than
ballistic/dynamic stretching, should be applied. Something to consider in future research as well as sports practice is that neither volume, inten-
sity, nor frequency of stretching were found to play a significant role in ROM yields.

TaggedAPTARAPKeywords: Flexibility; Long-term stretching; Stretch trainingTaggedAPTARAEnd

the maximum ROM at a specific stretch intensity (e.g., until
TaggedAPTARAH11. IntroductionTaggedAPTARAEnd
the point of discomfort). 17 However, in response to research
TaggedAPTARAPThe most common stretching techniques are static, ballistic,
over the last 25 years reporting performance decrements
dynamic, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) following prolonged static stretching, there has been a shift
stretching. 17 All of these methods are able to increase joint
toward emphasizing dynamic and ballistic stretching, espe-
range of motion (ROM) when implemented consistently in a cially in athletic populations. 3,6,18 Dynamic stretching involves
training program. 811 Traditionally, the most commonly used
1216 moving the joint repeatedly at a controlled velocity throughout
technique is static stretching, where the joint is held at 11
the whole ROM. A ballistic stretch is a form of dynamic
stretching, but performed at higher velocities where the joint
TaggedAPTARAEndTaggedAPTARAEnd Peer review under responsibility of Shanghai University of Sport. 10
TaggedAPTARAEnd* Corresponding author. may reach the maximum ROM. Additionally, PNF stretching
E-mail address: dbehm@mun.ca (D.G. Behm). is a technique frequently used in sports practice as well as in
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2023.06.002
Cite this article: Konrad A, Alizadeh S, Daneshjoo A, et al. Chronic effects of stretching on range of motion with consideration of potential moderating variables:
A systematic review with meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci 2024;13:18694.