The effects of chronic stretch training on musculoskeletal pain

One of the primary mechanisms for the increase in range of motion following stretching is an increase in pain/stretch tolerance. However, it remains unclear whether stretching can reduce pain in patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to investigate whether chronic stretch training can decrease pain in patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain.

In our search, we included three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) and after removing duplicates, screened 797 papers. Six papers were found to be eligible for this review. The inclusion criteria were controlled or randomized controlled trials that involved any type of chronic stretch training with participants experiencing musculoskeletal pain and where at least one pain output parameter was reported (e.g. visual analogue scale).

Of the six studies reviewed, four focused on the effects of stretching interventions on pain in patients, while the other two examined pain prevalence during the stretching period. The interventions lasted between 4 weeks and 6 months and involved either static or dynamic stretching techniques with in total 658 participants. Five of the six studies reported a significant decrease in pain scores or a reduction in the prevalence or severity of pain following the observation period.

The findings indicate that stretching can alleviate pain by enhancing range of motion and reducing muscle stiffness, which may ease nerve pressure and lower muscle spindle activity. Although results were somewhat mixed, the evidence overall supports stretching as an effective intervention for relieving musculoskeletal pain.