Delayed-onset muscle soreness is frequent after 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, causing symptoms that can range from mild irritation to severe pain, and can be accompanied by tenderness, swelling, and muscle stiffness. Stretching is often used to reduce the symptoms and refers to any therapeutic manoeuvre that temporarily or permanently increases the extensibility of soft tissue structures and thus achieves greater flexibility and range of motion. The purpose of this review was to determine the effect of different stretching techniques on delayed-onset muscle soreness. Methods: The literature was searched in the PubMed database. Results: Six studies investigating 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 other three studies did not report the effect on delayed-onset muscle soreness, since the pain increased. Conclusions: Clear and objective conclusions about the methods' effectiveness cannot be given due to very heterogeneous results from the reviewed studies. Further research is needed to determine the effect of stretching on delayed-onset muscle soreness.
|
