Abstract
Purpose
Previous meta-analysis studies concluded that static stretching intervention cannot decrease all-cause injury in healthy active individuals. On the other hand, static stretching intervention may decrease muscle injury, but the evidence has not been integrated. The aim of this study was to systematically review the papers and analyze the preventative effects of static stretching intervention on muscle and tendon injuries in healthy active participants.
Methods
A computerized search of PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO was performed in June 2023. Randomized controlled trials with static stretching investigations to prevent muscle and tendon injuries were included.
Results
Of 5575 papers identified, 4 papers were included (three papers examined both muscle and tendon injuries, and one paper examined only tendon injuries). For muscle injuries, the result of the meta-analysis showed that the static stretching intervention group significantly decreased muscle injuries compared to the control group (odds ratio = 0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.16–0.85; p < 0.01; I2 = 63%). For tendon injuries, it was found that there was no significant difference between the static stretching intervention group and the control group (odds ratio = 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.25–1.33; p = 0.194; I2 = 63%).
Conclusions
These data indicated that static stretching intervention can prevent muscle injuries, but not tendon injuries, in healthy active participants.
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Data availability
Data available on request from the authors.
Abbreviations
- CI:
-
Confidence interval
- OR:
-
Odds ratio
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This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI with Grant number 22K11595 (Kosuke Takeuchi).
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All authors were involved in the idea conception and collaborated on the literature review and in producing the figures and tables. KT performed the meta-analysis. All authors collaborated on interpreting the results. KT collaborated in writing the major parts of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article, approved the submitted version, and read and approved the final manuscript.
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Takeuchi, K., Nakamura, M., Fukaya, T. et al. Stretching intervention can prevent muscle injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sport Sci Health (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-024-01213-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-024-01213-9