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10 sources: 3 meta-analyses, 4 randomised controlled trials, 3 systematic reviews
Physical · Concept

Acute Static Stretching Before Strength and Power Efforts: What the Sources Studied

Reviews and trials of a static stretch performed immediately before a maximal strength, power or speed effort. The sources' conclusions are not yet recorded in this library, so this entry states no effect.

Any levelAnywhere
Before you start

None, informational content.

When to seek a professional
  • Persistent joint pain or sudden loss of range of motion, refer to a physician or physical therapist.
AthletesFor most adults
What the evidence says
What the sources say

The sources on this entry studied static stretching performed immediately before maximal strength, power and speed efforts. Six are syntheses: Warneke 2024 (meta-analysis, 48 studies), Kay 2012 (systematic review, 106 studies), Šimić 2013 (meta-analysis, 104 studies; 962 participants for maximal muscle strength, 195 for muscle power and 1072 for explosive muscular performance), Chaabène 2019 (systematic review), Behm 2016 (systematic review) and a second Warneke 2024 meta-analysis. Four are randomised trials: Blazevich 2018, Colosio 2020, Guo 2025 and Matta 2025. The sources' conclusions are not yet recorded in this library, so this entry states no effect, in either direction, on strength, power or speed.

Common misconceptions
  • Static stretching always ruins performance, the deficit is small and mostly from long holds.
  • Any pre-exercise stretch hurts you, short holds plus dynamic work minimize it.
What we won't claim
  • Pre-exercise static stretching causes large, lasting strength loss.
10 sources: 3 meta-analyses, 4 randomised controlled trials, 3 systematic reviews
Agreement
Direction recorded for 0 of 10 sources; not yet recorded for the rest.
The claim's outcome
Outcome not yet recorded
Certainty
No source states a certainty rating.
Authors
Sources share authors: K. Warneke (first author of 2 sources).
What each source measured and concluded (10)
meta-analysis · 2024
Warneke et al. (2024) — Critical evaluation and recalculation of current systematic reviews with meta-analysis on the effects of acute and chronic stretching on passive properties and passive peak torque
How it was read
read in full text
What the review says it includes
meta-analysis
Studies and participants, as stated
N = [not reported] participants across 48 studies
systematic review · 2012
Kay et al. (2012) — Effect of acute static stretch on maximal muscle performance: a systematic review.
How it was read
read in full text
What the review says it includes
systematic review
Studies and participants, as stated
N = [not reported] participants across 106 studies
meta-analysis · 2013
Šimić et al. (2013) — Does pre‐exercise static stretching inhibit maximal muscular performance? A meta‐analytical review
How it was read
read in full text
What the review says it includes
meta-analysis
Studies and participants, as stated
N = 962 participants for maximal muscle strength, 195 for muscle power, and 1072 for explosive muscular performance across 104 studies.
systematic review · 2019
Chaabène et al. (2019) — Acute Effects of Static Stretching on Muscle Strength and Power: An Attempt to Clarify Previous Caveats
How it was read
read in full text
systematic review · 2016
Behm et al. (2016) — Acute effects of muscle stretching on physical performance, range of motion, and injury incidence in healthy active individuals: a systematic review.
How it was read
read in full text
randomised controlled trial · 2018
Blazevich et al. (2018) — No Effect of Muscle Stretching within a Full, Dynamic Warm-up on Athletic Performance
How it was read
read in full text
randomised controlled trial · 2020
Colosio et al. (2020) — Prolonged static stretching causes acute, non-metabolic fatigue and impairs exercise tolerance during severe intensity cycling.
How it was read
read in full text
randomised controlled trial · 2025
Guo et al. (2025) — 60-Second Static Stretching of Lower Limb Muscles Disrupts Muscular Performance and Control in Active Male Adults.
How it was read
read in full text
randomised controlled trial · 2025
Matta et al. (2025) — Inter-Set Static Stretching does not Impair Muscle Performance and Acute Muscle Architecture
How it was read
read in full text
meta-analysis · 2024
Warneke et al. (2024) — Revisiting the stretch-induced force deficit: A systematic review with multilevel meta-analysis of acute effects
How it was read
read in full text
Key sources (11) · 1 not counted

Each source below is shown with its study design and a link to the original study, or, where it is not a completed research paper, with what kind of record it is; those are not counted. This is the audit trail.

meta-analysisCritical evaluation and recalculation of current systematic reviews with meta-analysis on the effects of acute and chronic stretching on passive properties and passive peak torqueK. Warneke, L. Lohmann, Gerit Plöschberger, Andreas Konrad (2024) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · 10.1007/s00421-024-05564-6 · full text
Type not recordedAddition Of Short Duration Stretching Prior To Traditional Warmup Does Not Alter Cycling Sprint PowerKiley L. McTamney, Millicent R. Tysinger, Emily L. Spina, C. Carriker (2025) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 10.1249/01.mss.0001159880.69419.a4 · full text
systematic reviewEffect of acute static stretch on maximal muscle performance: a systematic review.A. Kay, A. Blazevich (2012) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 10.1249/mss.0b013e318225cb27 · full text
meta-analysisDoes pre‐exercise static stretching inhibit maximal muscular performance? A meta‐analytical reviewL. Šimić, Nejc Sarabon, G. Marković (2013) · Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports · 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2012.01444.x · full text
systematic reviewAcute Effects of Static Stretching on Muscle Strength and Power: An Attempt to Clarify Previous CaveatsH. Chaabène, David G. Behm, Y. Negra, U. Granacher (2019) · Frontiers in Physiology · 10.3389/fphys.2019.01468 · full text
systematic reviewAcute effects of muscle stretching on physical performance, range of motion, and injury incidence in healthy active individuals: a systematic review.David G. Behm, A. Blazevich, A. Kay, M. McHugh (2016) · Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme · 10.1139/apnm-2015-0235 · full text
randomised controlled trialNo Effect of Muscle Stretching within a Full, Dynamic Warm-up on Athletic PerformanceA. Blazevich, N. Gill, T. Kvorning et al. (2018) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 10.1249/mss.0000000000001539 · full text
randomised controlled trialProlonged static stretching causes acute, non-metabolic fatigue and impairs exercise tolerance during severe intensity cycling.A. Colosio, Massimo Teso, S. Pogliaghi (2020) · Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme · 10.1139/apnm-2019-0981 · full text
randomised controlled trial60-Second Static Stretching of Lower Limb Muscles Disrupts Muscular Performance and Control in Active Male Adults.Weishuai Guo, Young-Sun Kim, Junsig Wang, Tengfei Dong, Xuan Tang, Sukwon Kim (2025) · Journal of Sports Science and Medicine · 10.52082/jssm.2025.195 · full text
randomised controlled trialInter-Set Static Stretching does not Impair Muscle Performance and Acute Muscle ArchitectureT. Matta, G. H. Halmenschlager, José Carlos et al. (2025) · Muscle Ligaments and Tendons Journal · 10.32098/mltj.02.2025.09 · full text
meta-analysisRevisiting the stretch-induced force deficit: A systematic review with multilevel meta-analysis of acute effectsK. Warneke, L. Lohmann (2024) · Journal of Sport and Health Science · 10.1016/j.jshs.2024.05.002 · full text
Why do some records show a record type instead of a study design?

A study design is shown for a completed, peer-reviewed paper. A registered protocol, a preprint, a conference abstract, a referee report or a book chapter has not been through peer review as a finished paper, so it is labelled for what it is, and it is counted in no source count. Where a record could not be confirmed as a completed paper at all, it says so rather than guessing. They all stay in the list, and their DOI still resolves, because the count of what was screened is part of the audit trail.

  • Protocol / registration A registered plan for a review or trial, not its results.
  • Preprint Posted by its authors before peer review.
  • Conference abstract A conference summary rather than a peer-reviewed paper.
  • Peer-review report A referee's report on a paper, not the paper itself.
  • Guideline / position stand A recommendation derived from evidence, which is a step further from the data than the evidence itself.
  • Book chapter A chapter in a scholarly book rather than a journal paper.
  • Type not recorded Our record does not say what kind of publication this is, so it is counted in no source count. That is a gap in our data, not a judgement about the research.
Explore all 567 studies in Flexibility →
The full evidence base this focus area draws on, every study with its design and DOI.
What it is for
Move more freelyPrepare my body before training
Acute Static Stretching Before Strength and Power Efforts: What the Sources Studied