Trial reportPloS one2020
Static stretch and dynamic muscle activity induce acute similar increase in corticospinal excitability.
Trial report in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Non-local acute stretching effects on strength performance in healthy young adults.European journal of applied physiology · 2021Pooled it
- Non-local Acute Passive Stretching Effects on Range of Motion in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2021Pooled it
- Mechanisms underlying performance impairments following prolonged static stretching without a comprehensive warm-up.European journal of applied physiology · 2021Pooled it
- Effects of acute static stretching and dynamic warm-up protocols on shoulder function in young adult male athletes with shoulder impingement syndrome: a randomized controlled crossover trial.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2025Trial
- Passive vs. active warm-up combined with stretching on hamstring flexibility and maximal voluntary contractions.PloS one · 2025Trial
- Neural and Mechanical Adaptations During Static Stretching With Different Amplitudes.The European journal of neuroscience · 2026Article
- The role of stretching protocols in post-fatigue performance and flexibility among soccer players.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- The acute effects of dynamic stretching on the neuromuscular system are independent of the velocity.Experimental physiology · 2025Article
- Effects of Dynamic Stretching Combined with Manual Therapy on Pain, ROM, Function, and Quality of Life of Adhesive Capsulitis.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- A cognitive task, deep breathing, and static stretching reduce variability of motor evoked potentials during subsequent transcranial magnetic stimulation.Brain research · 2023Article
- Enhanced corticospinal excitability in the tibialis anterior during static stretching of the soleus in young healthy individuals.PloS one · 2023Article
- Article
- A Survey on Stretching Practices in Women and Men from Various Sports or Physical Activity Programs.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Acute effects of dynamic stretching on neuromechanical properties: an interaction between stretching, contraction, and movement.European journal of applied physiology · 2021Article
- H-reflex and M-wave responses after voluntary and electrically evoked muscle cramping.European journal of applied physiology · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Even though the acute effects of pre-exercise static stretching and dynamic muscle activity on muscular and functional performance have been largely investigated, their effects on the corticospinal pathway are still unclear. For that reason, this study examined the acute effects of 5×20 s of static stretching, dynamic muscle activity and a control condition on spinal excitability, corticospinal excitability and plantar flexor neuromuscular properties. Fifteen volunteers were randomly tested on separate days. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was applied to investigate corticospinal excitability by recording the amplitude of the motor-evoked potential (MEP) and the duration of the cortical silent period (cSP). Peripheral nerve stimulation was applied to investigate (i) spinal excitability using the Hoffmann reflex (Hmax), and (ii) neuromuscular properties using the amplitude of the maximal M-wave (Mmax) and corresponding peak twitch torque. These measurements were performed with a background 30% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Finally, the maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque and the corresponding electromyography (EMG) from soleus, gastrocnemius medialis and gastrocnemius lateralis were recorded. These parameters were measured immediately before and 10 s after each conditioning activity of plantar flexors. Corticospinal excitability (MEP/Mmax) was significantly enhanced after static stretching in soleus (P = 0.001; ES = 0.54) and gastrocnemius lateralis (P<0.001; ES = 0.64), and after dynamic muscle activity in gastrocnemius lateralis (P = 0.003; ES = 0.53) only. On the other hand, spinal excitability (Hmax/Mmax), cSP duration, muscle activation (EMG/Mmax) as well as maximal voluntary and evoked torque remained unaltered after all pre-exercise interventions. These findings indicate the presence of facilitation of the corticospinal pathway without change in muscle function after both static stretching (particularly) and dynamic muscle activity.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.