We are currently teaching stretching to our undergraduate physio students and in preparing for this I came across an editorial piece by Ian Shrier in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. This outlined some of the key problems with pre-sport stretching which I have summarised below - correctly I hope.
1) Increase tissue compliance = decreased ability to absorb energy - Noyes et al (1977) Clin Orthop (123) 210-242
Possible problem for eccentric loading
2) Muscle damage closely linked with eccentric activity in normal range - Garret (1996) Am J Sports Med 24-, so why $B", (J range.
3) Mild stretching can cause damage - MacPherson et al (1996) Am J of Physiol. 271 - especially if conditions not right
4) Stretching can be analgesic - Magnusson et al (1996) Archives Physical Medicine Rehabilitation -
One of the main confounding variables of most RCT studies in stretching is the inclusion of a warm up in the stretching programme. This, it could argued, is the active ingredient!
Andy Kerr
Lecturer in Physiotherapy
Glasgow Caledonian University
-----Original Message-----
From: Robin Shutt (OPT) [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 11 February 2004 09:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Research support for stretching in rehabilitation
I think we are once again into that area that asks what is evidence?
There are a number of treatments/techniques that are applied with little
peer reviewed evidence.
Consider 'core stability' - 'muscle balance' - 'Pilates' etc.
It works for me, is often the only criteria.
Robin
>-----Original Message-----
>From: - for physiotherapists in education and practice
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joe Wright
>Sent: 11 February 2004 01:36
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Research support for stretching in rehabilitation
>
>
>Although I wasn't impressed with stretching in sport I had
>assumed (possibly
>naively?) that rehabilitation stretching was evidence based.
>
>If its not then it simply shouldn't be recommended. Its a bit
>of a leap to
>suggest stretching might help and its a leap that should only
>be made after
>the research is there.
>
>Regards
>Joe
>
>> Yes, the evidence base is sparse and dubious. And yet
>physio's recommend
>to
>> patients daily. An ethical issue?
>>
>> Martin Jones BA(hons), BSc(hons), MCSP, SRP
>> Senior 1 Physiotherapist
>
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