Introduction: Delayed-onset muscle soreness is an often result of unaccustomed exercise or high-intensity exercise, particularly if it involves eccentric muscle contractions. Delayed-onset muscle soreness develops approximately 12 to 24 hours after physical activity, and reaches its peak intensity of symptoms at about 48 hours after cessation of exercise, and then subsides in the following days. Its symptoms can range from mild irritation to severe pain, and can be accompanied by tenderness, swelling, and muscle stiffness. Various treatment strategies for alleviating delayed-onset muscle soreness have been used, including stretching. Stretching refers to any therapeutic maneuver that temporarily or permanently increases the extensibility of soft tissue structures and thus achieves greater flexibility and range of motion. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis was to determine the effect of different stretching techniques on delayed-onset muscle soreness and range of motion. Methods: The literature search was carried out in the PubMed database using keywords in English. The articles, included in the review, were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Seven studies examining the effect of static or dynamic stretching on exercise-induced delayed muscle soreness were included in the literature review. Three studies reported a decrease in delayed-onset muscle soreness, whereas three of them discovered its increase. An improvement in range of motion was observed in three studies and a decrease in two of them. Discussion and conclusion: We can conclude that stretching before exercise does not alleviate delayed muscle soreness. Stretching after exercise provided mixed results, suggesting that the type of stretching does not affect the outcome when attenuating delayed-onset muscle soreness. To increase the range of motion, static or PNF stretching can be performed before or after exercise. Clear and objective conclusions about the methods' effectiveness cannot be given due to very heterogeneous results from reviewed studies. Further research with more articles included is needed to determine the effect of stretching on delayed-onset muscle soreness and range of motion.
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