Stretching intervention can prevent muscle injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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.

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.

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%).

These data indicated that static stretching intervention can prevent muscle injuries, but not tendon injuries, in healthy active participants.