Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37301370›Full record

SynthesisJournal of sport and health science2024

Chronic effects of stretching on range of motion with consideration of potential moderating variables: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Andreas Konrad, Shahab Alizadeh, Abdolhamid Daneshjoo, Saman Hadjizadeh Anvar, Andrew Graham, Ali Zahiri, Reza Goudini, Chris Edwards, Carina Scharf, David George Behm

Open access · diamondAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of sport and health science, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 62 papers, 13 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
62citing papers in PubMed, 13 pooled it
17.6field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

62 citing papers in PubMed, 13 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 72 citations in OpenAlex.

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  5. The effects of chronic stretch training on musculoskeletal pain.European journal of applied physiology · 2025
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2 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Andreas KonradInstitute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, Graz University, Graz A-8010, Austria; School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada.
Shahab AlizadehSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada.
Abdolhamid DaneshjooDepartment of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman 76169-13439, Iran.
Saman Hadjizadeh AnvarSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada.
Andrew GrahamSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada.
Ali ZahiriSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada.
Reza GoudiniSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada.
Chris EdwardsSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada.
Carina ScharfInstitute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, Graz University, Graz A-8010, Austria.
David George BehmSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada. Electronic address: dbehm@mun.ca.
Memorial University of Newfoundland · CAShahid Bahonar University of Kerman · IRUniversity of Graz · AT

Funding

Austrian Science Fund FWF P 32078
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIt is well known that stretch training can induce prolonged increases in joint range of motion (ROM). However, to date more information 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.

methodsWe 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.

resultsWe found a significant overall effect, indicating that stretch training can increase ROM with a moderate effect compared to the controls (effect size = -1.002; Z = -12.074; 95% confidence interval: -1.165 to -0.840; p < 0.001; I

conclusionWhen 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, intensity, nor frequency of stretching were found to play a significant role in ROM yields.

Indexed as

Muscle Stretching ExercisesRange of Motion, ArticularAge FactorsFemaleHumansMaleSex FactorsFlexibilityLong-term stretchingStretch training

Identifiers

PMID37301370
PMCPMC10980866
OpenAlexW4379931740

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.