PHYSIOLOGY OF STRE TCHING

‘The stretching debate’

Introduction In order to clarify the issues, If you, the reader, have further
JBMT invited 10 experts including comments to make that JBMTs
In August 2002, an article appeared those with specific involvement in editorial team consider to contain
in The British Medical Journal that athletics as well as practitioner/ useful insights, JBMT undertakes to
created a great deal of interest and therapists (with backgrounds in publish these in a subsequent issue.
controversy. The paper in question osteopathy, chiropractic,
(Herbert & Gabriel 2002) evaluated physiotherapy, massage therapy and
the benefits (or lack of benefits) Rolfing) who use stretching
associated with stretching modalities in their work, to
procedures in relation to protection comment on the article from their REFERENCES
from injury and post-exercise perspectives. Herbert R, Gabriel M 2002 Effects of
soreness. JBMT invited the original authors stretching before and after exercising on
to respond to the 10 commentaries muscle soreness and risk of injury:
...........................................
systematic review. British Medical
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (2003) in order to create an open forum.
Journal 325: 468
7(2), 80
r 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Their response follows on from the
doi:10.1016/S1360-8592(02)00113-4 10 commentaries, which are Leon Chaitow
S1360-8592/03/$ - see front matter
published in alphabetical order. Editor

Commentary 1
Joel W. Beam
Joel W. Beam EdD, ATC, LAT
Assistant Professor, Athletic Training Education In response to the recent study by Gabriel 2002). In each investigation,
Program, University of North Florida, 4567, St. Johns
Herbert and Gabriel (2002), I would delayed-onset muscle soreness
Bluff Road, South Jacksonville, FL 32224-2673, USA
like to make several points which (DOMS) was the dependent
Correspondence to: Joel W. Beam center on the all-inclusive nature of variable. DOMS is believed to be a
Tel.: +1-904-620-2841; fax: +1-904-620-2848
the findings. The authors state pre- combination of damage to muscle
E-mail: .jbeam@unf.edu.
and post-exercise stretching does not membranes and a secondary
...........................................
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (2003)
offer protection from muscle inflammatory reaction (Wilmore &
7(2), 80^81 soreness. To determine the effects of Costill 1999) as a result of eccentric
r 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/S1360-8592(02)00114-6
stretching on muscle soreness, five contractions (Talag 1973, Newham
S1360-8592/03/$ - see front matter studies were reviewed (Herbert & et al. 1983) and maximal isometric

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 The stretching debate

exercise (Clarkson et al. 1986). reciprocal inhibition can affect the activity following isometric, eccentric,
and concentric exercise. Int J Sports Med
Recreational and competitive ath- physical, mechanical, and neurolo-
7: 152–155
letic activities normally do not place gical properties of connective tissue Herbert RD, Gabriel M 2002 Effects of
eccentric and isometric loads upon in the promotion and maintenance stretching before and after exercising on
the musculature similar to the loads of ROM and flexibility (Houglum muscle soreness and risk of injury:
produced in the laboratory setting. 2001). Full, non-restricted ROM has systematic review. Br Med J 325: 468
Investigations examining the effects been viewed as an important aspect Houglum PA 2001 Therapeutic Exercise for
Athletic Injuries. Human Kinetics,
of stretching on general muscle in the prevention of injury and re- Champaign, IL: 127–144
soreness, which accompanies fatigue injury (Shellock & Prentice 1985, Newham DJ, Mills KR, Quigley BM,
(Prentice 2003), may provide prac- Armiger 2000). Prior to rejecting the Edwards RHT 1983 Pain and fatigue
tical significance for the recreational beneficial effects of stretching or after concentric and eccentric
and competitive athlete. Because of other techniques in the prevention, contractions. Clin Sci 64: 55–62
Prentice WE 2003 Arnheim’s Principles of
the limited data, caution should be treatment, and rehabilitation of Athletic Training: A Competency-based
exercised in the dismissal of the conditions and injuries, we must Approach. Vol 88. McGraw Hill, Boston,
effects of stretching on other forms carefully examine study findings and MA
of muscle activity. the applications to our therapeutic Shellock F, Prentice WE 1985 Warm-up and
stretching for improved physical
The authors also conclude purposes and goals.
performance and prevention of sport
pre-exercise stretching does not related injury. Sports Medicine 2: 267–
practically reduce the risk of injury. 278
REFERENCES
Stretching techniques are commonly Talag TS 1973 Residual muscular soreness as
utilized in therapeutic exercise and Armiger P 2000 Preventing musculotendinous influenced by concentric, eccentric, and
strengthening programs to increase injuries: a focus on flexibility. Athletic static contractions. Research Quarterly
Therapy Today 5: 20 44: 458–469
range of motion (ROM) and Clarkson PM, Brynes WC, McCormick KM, Wilmore JH, Costill DC 1999 Physiology of
flexibility. Theoretically, creep, Turcotte LP, White JS 1986 Muscle Sport and Exercise. 2nd edn.
hysteresis, and autogenic and soreness and serum creatine kinase

Commentary 2
Judith DeLany
Whereas the objective goal of literature review, therefore, offers ing upon the degree of tension
Herbert and Gabriel might be a little to the astute reader. placed on the muscle. These
worthy one, the means by which stretches were held for varying
(1) The working status of the mus-
they arrived at their conclusions are lengths of time, some as long as
cle may have influence on its
build on a less than ideal 2 minutes and others for 10
ability to effectively stretch.
foundation. There are several points seconds. Could this duration
That is, if the person is standing
that are lacking in the cited research (especially depending upon the
while performing the stretch on
and also several questionable amount of tension placed on
the posterior leg, gastrocnemius
protocols. Critical factors are often the muscle) have stimulated the
and soleus are in a working
not clear in the evidence provided stretch reflex mechanisms and
state. In what position were the
and several are questionable. This caused subsequent tightening of
stretches performed? It is un-
known from this evidence. the tissues? If so, this would
Judith DeLany LMT (2) Was any warm-up of the mus- have bearing on resultant injury.
Neuromuscular Therapy Instructor, St Petersburg,
cle (such as simple walking) (4) The number of repetitions is of
Florida, USA significance. Two repetitions
done prior to the stretch or was
Correspondence to: Judith DeLany it performed on ‘cold’ myofas- are not likely enough, especially
E-mail: jwalkerlmt@aol.com.
cial tissue? It is unknown from if significant exercise is to fol-
........................................... this evidence. low.
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (2003)
7(2), 81^82 (3) The length of time the stretch (5) The degree of elongation
r 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. was held may have significant during the stretch is of signifi-
doi:10.1016/S1360-8592(02)00115-8
S1360-8592/03/$ - see front matter influence, particularly depend- cance. Is it possible that the

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