The effect of six-week regular stretching exercises on regional and distant pain sensitivity: an experimental longitudinal study on healthy adults

Review written by Dr Jarod Hall info

Key Points

  1. Although current evidence shows a clinically relevant effect of acute stretching on musculoskeletal pain, there is limited and conflicting knowledge of the effect of regular stretching exercises on regional and widespread pain sensitivity.
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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Stretching exercises are widely used for pain relief and show positive effects on musculoskeletal, nociplastic and neuropathic pain (1-3). However, the magnitude of altered pain sensitivity responses following regular stretching is currently unknown. Current evidence suggests that the main contributor to the effects of stretching exercises are caused by modifications in the subject’s sensation (i.e. stretch, tightness, or pain), resulting in changes in the tolerance to stretch (4). Stretch tolerance is defined as the capability to tolerate stretch-related discomfort (5).

Previous research indicates that changes in the range of motion following stretching may be a manifestation of altered pain sensitivity, suggesting that the tolerance to stretching may be a marker of overall pain sensitivity (6-9). The increase in stretch tolerance may be contingent on an analgesic effect, allowing for a higher tolerance to passive tension. The gain in flexibility following regular stretching will likely abate when stretching is discontinued, suggesting that the retention of changes in the tolerance to stretch is linked with regular modifications of somatosensory input, e.g. regular stretching (9,10).

However, there is a limited scientific understanding of the way in which these changes in pain sensitivity respond when regular stretching is discontinued.

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of six weeks of regular stretching on regional and distant pain sensitivity. The secondary objective of this study was to investigate if regional and distant pain sensitivity decreased following cessation.

Stretching exercises are widely used for pain relief and show positive effects on musculoskeletal, nociplastic and neuropathic pain.
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Stretching distant from the primary pain site may provide relief when local stretching is too painful to perform, which may make stretching an accessible and versatile intervention.

METHODS

  • The study design was a single-blind longitudinal repeated measurement study.
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