Table 1. Summary of the included studies.
| Studies | Population | Stretching group | Control group | Outcomes and main results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerrigan et al., 2003 44 | 96 healthy older
adults, ? (≥65 years) |
n= 47, static stretching,
hip flexors, 4 sets, 30 seconds, twice daily, 10 weeks |
n=49, static shoulder
deltoid-stretching, same protocol |
No significant difference between groups for hip extension (SMD= 0.22;
95% CI: -0.18, 0.62), hip torque (SMD= 0.35; 95% CI: -0.06, 0.75), anterior pelvic tilt (SMD= -0.35 ; 95% CI : -0.76, 0.05), ankle plantar flexion ROM (SMD= -0.05, 95% CI : -0.45, 0.35), ankle plantar flexion power (SMD= 0.00 ; 95% CI : -0.40, 0.40), hip extension (SMD= 0.22 ; 95% CI : -0.19, 0.62) and hip torque (SMD= 0.35; 95% CI: -0.06, 0.75) |
| Gajdosik et al., 2005 14 | 19 community dwelling
older women, ? (65–89 years) |
n=10, static stretching,
ankle plantar flexors, 10 sets, 15 seconds, 3 times per week, 8 weeks |
n=9, no exercise. | No significant difference between groups for 10MWT (SMD= -0.76; 95%
CI: -1.70, 0.18) |
| Christiansen, 2008 42 | 40 healthy older
adults, 72.10±4.70 years |
N= 20, static
stretching, hip flexors, 3 sets, 45 seconds, twice daily, 8 weeks |
n=20, maintain their
current level of physical activity |
No significant difference between groups for gait speed (SMD= -0.32;
95% CI: -0.97, 0.33), hip extension (SMD= 0.22; 95% CI: -0.43, 0.86), stride length (SMD= - 0.14 ; 95% CI : -0.79, 0.50), ankle dorsiflexion (SMD= 0.29 ; 95% CI : -0.36, 0.94) |
| Cristopoliski et al., 2009 43 | 20 healthy elderly
women, 65.90±4.20 years |
n=12, static stretching,
hip flexors and extensors, ankle plantar flexors, 4 sets, 60 seconds, 3 sessions per week, 12 sessions |
n=8, no specific
activity in this period |
Significant improvement in favor of stretching group for gait speed
(SMD= 1.32 ; 95% CI : 0.32, 2.32), anterior pelvic tilt (SMD= -2.52 ; 95% CI : -3.77, -1.27), stand phase duration (SMD= -1.92; 95% CI: -3.04, -0.81), swing phase duration (SMD= 1.92 ; 95% CI : 0.81, 3.04), double support phase duration (SMD= -1.69; 95% CI: -2.76, -0.62), step length (SMD= 1.37 ; 95% CI : 0.36, 2.38) and pelvic rotation (SMD= 1.37 ; 95% CI : 0.36, 2.38) No significant difference between groups for cycle duration (SMD= - 0.24 ; 95% CI : -1.14, 0.66), heel-contact velocity (SMD= -0.46 ; 95% CI : -1.37, 0.45), toe clearance (SMD= 0.91 ; 95% CI : -0.04, 1.86), lateral pelvic tilt (SMD= 0.93 ; 95% CI : -0.02, 1.88) and knee range of motion (SMD= 0.23 ; 95% CI : -0.67, 1.12) |
| Watt et al., 2011 46 | 82 healthy elderly
subjects, 72,6±6 years |
n= 43, static stretching,
hip flexors, 2 sets, 60 seconds, 2 sessions daily stretching, 10 weeks |
N= 39, shoulder
abductor static stretching, same protocol |
Significant improvement in favor of stretching group for gait speed
(SMD= 0.47; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.91) No significant difference between groups for hip extension (SMD= 0.18; 95% CI: -0.25, 0.62), anterior pelvic tilt (SMD=0.07 ; 95% CI : -0.36, 0.51), stride length (SMD= 0.54 ; 95% CI : -0.01, 1.08) |
| Locks et al., 2012 45 | 23 healthy older
individuals, 67.5±2.12 years |
n=10, static stretching,
knee extensors, ankle dorsiflexor, knee flexors, ankle plantar flexors, 4 sets, 60 seconds, twice a week ,12 weeks |
n=13 a one-hour
seminar on healthy living every four weeks and did not perform any physical or therapeutic exercise. |
No significant difference between groups for 6MWT (SMD= -0.04; 95% CI
: -0.86, 0.79) |
| Watt et al., 2011 47 | 74 frail elderly
subjects, 77.00±8.00 years |
n=33, static stretching,
hip flexors, 2 sets, 60 seconds, 2 sessions per day, 10 weeks |
n=41, shoulder
abductor stretching program, same protocol |
No significant difference between groups in peak hip extension, (SMD=
0.22; 95% CI: -0.24, 0.68), anterior pelvic tilt (SMD= -0.05; 95% CI: -0.51, 0.41) and cadence (SMD= 0.13; 95% CI: -0.33, 0.59) Significant improvements in favor of the stretching group in walking speed and stride length (both SMD= 0.49; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.96) |
| Hotta et al., 2019 48 | 13 elderly patients
with symptomatic peripheral artery disease, ? |
n= 13, static stretching,
ankle plantar flexor stretching, 1 set, 30 minutes, 5 sessions per week, 4 weeks |
n= 13, no stretching
intervention (cross- over intervention) |
Significant improvements in favor of the stretching group for both total
walking distance and continuous walking distance with large effect sizes (SMD= 1.56; 95% CI: 0.66, 2.45 and SMD= 3.05; 95% CI: 1.86, 4.23 respectively) |
| Kim et al., 2013 49 | 24 patients with stroke,
53.30±3.16 years |
n=12, static stretching,
ankle plantar flexors, 1 set, 20 minutes, 4 times a week, 4 times a week, 6 weeks |
n= 12, conventional
physical therapy as in in the stretching group |
No significant difference between groups in sway of the center of
pressure (SMD=0.75; 95% CI: -0.09, 1.58) |
| Johanson et al., 2006 50 | 19 adults with limited
passive ankle- dorsiflexion range of motion (less than 8 degrees) and a history of lower limb overuse injury, 30.30± 9.80 years |
n=11, static stretching,
ankle plantar flexors, 5 sets, 30 seconds, 2 times daily, 3 weeks |
n= 8, continue all of
their usual activities |
No significant difference between groups in ankle dorsiflexion during
gait in both right and left ankle (SMD= 0.50; 95% CI: -0.42, 1.43 and SMD= 0.41; 95% CI: -0.52, 1.33 respectively) and for time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of gait in both right and left ankle (SMD= -0.50; 95% CI: -1.43, 0.43 and SMD= -0.48; 95% CI: -1.41, 0.45 respectively) |
| Johanson et al., 2009 51 | 16 healthy adults with
limited passive ankle- dorsiflexion range of motion (less than 5 degrees), 27.40±8.20 years |
n=8, static stretching,
ankle plantar flexors, 4 sets, 30 seconds, 2 times daily, 3 weeks |
n=8, no physical
activity or stretching programs involving the lower extremities for 3 weeks |
No significant difference between groups in ankle dorsiflexion (SMD=
0.53; 95% CI: -0.48, 1.53), maximum knee extension (SMD= -0.07; 95% CI: -1.05, 0.91), medial and lateral gastrocnemius activities (SMD= 0.37; 95% CI: -0.62, 1.36 and SMD= 0.00; 95% CI=: -0.98, 0.98 respectively) |
| Godges et al., 1993 52 | 16 healthy, athletic,
male college students, 21.00±l.00 years |
n=9, static stretching,
hip flexors, 3 sets, 2 minutes, 2 sessions per week, 3 weeks |
n=7, continue their
current activity levels |
No significant difference between groups in gait economy (SMD= 0.83;
95% CI: -0.21, 1.87) |
SMD: standard mean difference, CI: confidence interval, 10MWT: 10-meter walk test, 6MWT: 6-minute walk test, ROM: range of motion, ?: information not provided.