Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39720626›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in rehabilitation sciences2024

Stretching after spinal cord injury: a call for evidence for this common clinical practice.

Todd E Williams, Louis A DeMark, Tinuade A Olarewaju, Kelly A Hawkins, Emily J Fox

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Physiotherapy process with the addition of modern technologies after cervical spinal cord arteriovenous malformation (AVM) rupture: a case study.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Article
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

5 authors.

Todd E WilliamsDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
Louis A DeMarkBrooks Rehabilitation, Clinical Research and Motion Analysis Centers, Jacksonville, FL, United States.
Tinuade A OlarewajuDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
Kelly A HawkinsDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
Emily J FoxDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Stretching is a ubiquitous rehabilitation intervention for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), intended to reduce spasticity, maintain or improve joint range of motion, and prevent joint contractures. Although people with SCI report that stretching is their preferred approach to reduce spasticity, limited evidence supports the use of stretching for people with SCI, including short-term (< one hour) effects on spasticity. Further, the long-term effects and the effects of stretching on motor function have yet to be examined in humans with SCI. Evidence from pre-clinical studies in rats with SCI demonstrates that stretching impairs motor output, reduces spinal cord excitability, and abolishes walking function. This perspective paper discusses evidence of static stretching in humans and rats with SCI regarding the effects on range of motion, joint contractures, and effects on voluntary and involuntary (i.e., spasticity) motor output. Additionally, we aim to challenge assumptions regarding the use of stretching and encourage research to advance the understanding of this common rehabilitation approach. Research is needed to investigate underlying mechanisms of stretch-induced effects and to advance stretching protocols to optimize the potential beneficial effects of stretching for people with SCI.

Indexed as

motor outputrehabilitationspasticityspinal cord injurystretchingwalking function

Identifiers

PMID39720626
PMCPMC11666664

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.