Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38637473›Full record

SynthesisSports medicine - open2024

Effects of Chronic Static Stretching on Maximal Strength and Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Meta-Regression.

Konstantin Warneke, Lars Hubertus Lohmann, David G Behm, Klaus Wirth, Michael Keiner, Stephan Schiemann, Jan Wilke

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Sports medicine - open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
11.5field-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

18 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Trial
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Review
  12. Review
  13. Review
  14. Ultrasound-Guided Fascial Hydrorelease for Persistent Pain After Hamstring Injury.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2025
    Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Review
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

7 authors at 7 institutions in 3 countries.

Konstantin WarnekeInstitute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4964-2867
Lars Hubertus LohmannDepartment of Human Motion Science and Exercise Physiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743, Jena, Germany. Lars.hubertus.lohmann@uni-jena.de.
David G BehmSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Newfoundland and Labrador, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
Klaus WirthUniversity of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
Michael KeinerDepartment of Sport Science, German University of Health & Sport, Ismaning, Germany.
Stephan SchiemannInstitute of Exercise, Sport and Health, Leuphana University, Lüneburg, Germany.
Jan WilkeDepartment of Movement Sciences, University of Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria.
Fachhochschule Wiener Neustadt · ATFriedrich Schiller University Jena · DEGerman Sport University Cologne · DELeuphana University of Lüneburg · DEMemorial University of Newfoundland · CAUniversity of Graz · ATUniversity of Klagenfurt · AT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIncreases in maximal strength and muscle volume represent central aims of training interventions. Recent research suggested that the chronic application of stretch may be effective in inducing hypertrophy. The present systematic review therefore aimed to syntheisize the evidence on changes of strength and muscle volume following chronic static stretching.

methodsThree data bases were sceened to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis. Studies using randomized, controlled trials with longitudinal (≥ 2 weeks) design, investigating strength and muscle volume following static stretching in humans, were included. Study quality was rated by two examiners using the PEDro scale.

resultsA total of 42 studies with 1318 cumulative participants were identified. Meta-analyses using robust variance estimation showed small stretch-mediated maximal strength increases (d = 0.30 p < 0.001) with stretching duration and intervention time as significant moderators. Including all studies, stretching induced small magnitude, but significant hypertrophy effects (d = 0.20). Longer stretching durations and intervention periods as well as higher training frequencies revealed small (d = 0.26-0.28), but significant effects (p < 0.001-0.005), while lower dosage did not reach the level of significance (p = 0.13-0.39).

conclusionsWhile of minor effectiveness, chronic static stretching represents a possible alternative to resistance training when aiming to improve strength and increase muscle size. As a dose-response relationship may exist, higher stretch durations and frequencies as well as long program durations should be further elaborated.

Indexed as

ExerciseHypertrophyLong-lastingMaximum strengthStretching

Identifiers

PMID38637473
PMCPMC11026323
OpenAlexW4394933812

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.