Can chronic stretching change the muscle-tendon mechanical properties? A review
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Mendes, B
Le Sant, G
Andrade, RJ
Nordez, A
Milanovic, Z
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Abstract
It is recognized that stretching is an effective method to chronically increase the joint range of motion. However, the effects of stretching training on the muscle-tendon structural properties remain unclear. This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to determine whether chronic stretching alter the muscle-tendon structural properties. Published papers regarding longitudinal stretching (static, dynamic and/or PNF) intervention (either randomized or not) in humans of any age and health status, with more than 2 weeks in duration and at least 2 sessions per week, were searched in PubMed, PEDro, ScienceDirect and ResearchGate databases. Structural or mechanical variables from joint (maximal tolerated passive torque or resistance to stretch) or muscle-tendon unit (muscle architecture, stiffness, extensibility, shear modulus, volume, thickness, cross-sectional area, and slack length) were extracted from those papers. A total of 26 studies were selected, with a duration ranging from 3 to 8 weeks, and an average total time under stretching of 1165 seconds per week. Small effects were seen for maximal tolerated passive torque, but trivial effects were seen for joint resistance to stretch, muscle architecture, muscle stiffness, and tendon stiffness. A large heterogeneity was seen for most of the variables. Stretching interventions with 3- to 8-week duration do not seem to change either the muscle or the tendon properties, although it increases the extensibility and tolerance to a greater tensile force. Adaptations to chronic stretching protocols shorter than 8 weeks seem to mostly occur at a sensory level.
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Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
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28
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3
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© 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Can chronic stretching change the muscle‐tendon mechanical properties? A review, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, Volume 28, Issue 3, Pages 794-806, 2018, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12957. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving (http://olabout.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-828039.html)
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Sports science and exercise
Medical physiology
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Sport Sciences
dynamic stretching
flexibility training
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Freitas, SR; Mendes, B; Le Sant, G; Andrade, RJ; Nordez, A; Milanovic, Z, Can chronic stretching change the muscle-tendon mechanical properties? A review, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 2018, 28 (3), pp. 794-806