A randomized trial of preexercise stretching for prevention of lower-limb injury.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the effect of muscle stretching during warm-up on the risk of exercise-related injury.


METHODS
1538 male army recruits were randomly allocated to stretch or control groups. During the ensuing 12 wk of training, both groups performed active warm-up exercises before physical training sessions. In addition, the stretch group performed one 20-s static stretch under supervision for each of six major leg muscle groups during every warm-up. The control group did not stretch.


RESULTS
333 lower-limb injuries were recorded during the training period, including 214 soft-tissue injuries. There were 158 injuries in the stretch group and 175 in the control group. There was no significant effect of preexercise stretching on all-injuries risk (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% CI 0.77-1.18), soft-tissue injury risk (HR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.63-1.09), or bone injury risk (HR = 1.22, 95% CI 0.86-1.76). Fitness (20-m progressive shuttle run test score), age, and enlistment date all significantly predicted injury risk (P < 0.01 for each), but height, weight, and body mass index did not.


CONCLUSIONS
A typical muscle stretching protocol performed during preexercise warm-ups does not produce clinically meaningful reductions in risk of exercise-related injury in army recruits. Fitness may be an important, modifiable risk factor.
Pope
R P
RP
Physiotherapy Department, Kapooka Health Centre, New South Wales, Australia. Rodney.Pope.69210450@army.defence.gov.au
Herbert
R D
RD
Kirwan
J D
JD
Graham
B J
BJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D018570:Risk Assessment