Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40059246›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of applied physiology2025

The effects of chronic stretch training on musculoskeletal pain.

Andreas Konrad, Masatoshi Nakamura, Mahta Sardroodian, Nazanin Aboozari, Saman Hadjizadeh Anvar, David G Behm

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of applied physiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. 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

6 authors.

Andreas KonradInstitute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, Graz University, Mozartgasse 14, 8010, Graz, Austria. andreas.konrad@uni-graz.at.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5588-1824
Masatoshi NakamuraFaculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, NishiKyushu University, 4490-9 Ozaki, Kanzaki, Saga, 842-8585, Japan.
Mahta SardroodianSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Nazanin AboozariSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Saman Hadjizadeh AnvarRecovery and Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
David G BehmSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeOne of the primary mechanisms for the increase in range of motion following stretching is an increase in pain/stretch tolerance. However, it remains unclear whether stretching can reduce pain in patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to investigate whether chronic stretch training can decrease pain in patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain.

methodsIn our search, we included three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) and after removing duplicates, screened 797 papers. Six papers were found to be eligible for this review. The inclusion criteria were controlled or randomized controlled trials that involved any type of chronic stretch training with participants experiencing musculoskeletal pain and where at least one pain output parameter was reported (e.g. visual analogue scale).

resultsOf the six studies reviewed, four focused on the effects of stretching interventions on pain in patients, while the other two examined pain prevalence during the stretching period. The interventions lasted between 4 weeks and 6 months and involved either static or dynamic stretching techniques with in total 658 participants. Five of the six studies reported a significant decrease in pain scores or a reduction in the prevalence or severity of pain following the observation period.

conclusionThe findings indicate that stretching can alleviate pain by enhancing range of motion and reducing muscle stiffness, which may ease nerve pressure and lower muscle spindle activity. Although results were somewhat mixed, the evidence overall supports stretching as an effective intervention for relieving musculoskeletal pain.

Indexed as

Muscle Stretching ExercisesMusculoskeletal PainHumansRange of Motion, ArticularFlexibilityRange of motionStiffnessStretchingStretch tolerance

Identifiers

PMID40059246
PMCPMC12354564

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.