Stretching exercise: Prescription and effects on musculoskeletal function in adults and older people

Abstract

Introduction: Stretching exercises have been included in training and rehabilitation programs to improve the flexibility of adults and older people. However, there is no consensus in the literature about the recommendations for stretching prescription. Objective: The aim of this study was to present an update of recent evidence about the prescription and the musculoskeletal effects of stretching exercises in adults and older. Method: Articles were searched on major databases and related to the period from 2006 to 2017, with the following descriptors: “muscle stretching exercise”, “long-term effect”, “elderly”, “exercício de alongamento muscular”, “efeitos a longo prazo”, and “idoso”. Results: After the analysis, 31 articles were included. The literature reported that the duration of the stretching should be between 10 to 30 seconds, each repetition, for young adults, and from 30 to 60 seconds for the elderly. Regarding acute effects, it was observed that for young adults, stretching durations up to 60 seconds may impair muscle strength performance, what does not seem to occur with elderly people. The main chronic effects found for young and elderly adults were an enhancement in flexibility and range of motion, and for the elderly, it was also observed improvement on torque, balance, gait, mobility, and functionality. The wide methodological variability of the articles analyzed impairs the establishment of a consensus. Conclusion: It is recommended that the stretching exercise must be prescribed considering the evidence for the specific population, i.e., adult or elderly people, as well as the goal to be achieved.