Zvetkova, E.; Koytchev, E.; Ivanov, I.; Ranchev, S.; Antonov, A. Biomechanical, Healing and Therapeutic Effects of Stretching: A Comprehensive Review. Appl. Sci.2023, 13, 8596.
Zvetkova, E.; Koytchev, E.; Ivanov, I.; Ranchev, S.; Antonov, A. Biomechanical, Healing and Therapeutic Effects of Stretching: A Comprehensive Review. Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, 8596.
Zvetkova, E.; Koytchev, E.; Ivanov, I.; Ranchev, S.; Antonov, A. Biomechanical, Healing and Therapeutic Effects of Stretching: A Comprehensive Review. Appl. Sci.2023, 13, 8596.
Zvetkova, E.; Koytchev, E.; Ivanov, I.; Ranchev, S.; Antonov, A. Biomechanical, Healing and Therapeutic Effects of Stretching: A Comprehensive Review. Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, 8596.
Abstract
Characterized in biomedical terms, stretching exercises have been defined as movements applied by external and/or internal forces – to increase muscle and joint flexibility, decrease muscle stiffness, to elevate joint range of motion (ROM), to increase the length of the morpho-functional unit “muscle-tendon”, to improve joint, muscle and tendon movements, contraction and relaxa-tion. The present review examines and summarizes the initial and recent literature data related to the biomechanical, physiological and therapeutic effects of static stretching (SS) on flexibility and other physiological characteristics of the main structural and functional unit “joint-ligaments-tendon-muscle”. The healing and therapeutic effects of SS, soon combined with other rehabilitation techniques (massage, foam rolling – with and without vibrations; hot/cold therapy, etc.) are discussed in relationship to creation of individual (patient-specific) or group programs for treatment and prevention of joint injuries as well as for improving performance in sports. From a theoretical point of view, the role of SS as positively affecting the composition of the connective tissue matrix is pointed out: type I-III collagen synthesis, hyaluronic acid and glucosaminoglycans (GAGs) turnover – under influence of the transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β-1). Different variables as collagen type, biochemistry, elongation and elasticity are used as molecular biomarkers. Recent studies evaluated that the static progressive stretching therapy could prevent/reduce the development of arthrogenic contractures, joint capsule fibrosis, muscle stiffness and need new clinical applications. Combined stretch techniques are proposed and ap-plied in medicine and sports, depending on their long- and short-term effects on variables such as ROM, EMG activity, muscle stiffness, etc. The results obtained are of theoretical and practical interest for development of new experimental, mathematical and computational models and creation of efficient therapeutic programs. The healing SS effects on the main structural and functional unit – “joint-ligament-tendon-muscle” need further investigations, which could clarify and evaluate benefits of SS in prophylaxis and treatment of joint injuries - in healthy and ill in-dividuals, in older adults, as compared to young, active and well-trained persons, as well as to professional athletes.
Keywords
Stretching; static stretching (SS); joint range of motion (ROM); muscle stiffness; joint-ligament-tendon-muscle unit; joint injuries - treatment and prophylaxis
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
