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9 sources: 3 meta-analyses, 1 non-randomised trial, 5 randomised controlled trials
Physical · Concept

Stretch Tolerance vs. Real Tissue Change

Whether range-of-motion gains reflect stretch tolerance (a sensory change) or mechanical change in the muscle-tendon unit: what the reviews and trials on this entry measured. Their conclusions are not yet recorded in this library, so this entry states no mechanism.

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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.
For most adultsAthletesNew to this
What the evidence says
What the sources say

The sources on this entry studied the mechanism behind range-of-motion change: stretch tolerance, a sensory and perceptual measure, alongside passive muscle-tendon stiffness and muscle-tendon architecture, in single sessions and over training periods. Ingram 2025 is a systematic review and meta-analysis of 65 studies and 1542 participants. Takeuchi 2023 is a meta-analysis of 17 studies on long-term stiffness change, and a second Takeuchi 2023 paper is a meta-analysis. Konrad 2019 and Konrad 2020 are randomised trials of the time course of acute changes, and Støve 2021 is a randomised trial of stretch tolerance and pain modulation; Hatano 2017 and Longo 2021 are randomised trials, and Moltubakk 2021 is a non-randomised trial. The sources' conclusions are not yet recorded in this library, so this entry states no share of range-of-motion change for stretch tolerance or for tissue change, and no effect of training length on stiffness or architecture.

Common misconceptions
  • ROM gains always mean the muscle got longer, often it is increased tolerance to the stretch sensation.
What we won't claim
  • Stretching physically elongates muscle fibers in every case.
9 sources: 3 meta-analyses, 1 non-randomised trial, 5 randomised controlled trials
Agreement
Direction recorded for 0 of 9 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: A. Konrad (first author of 2 sources); Kosuke Takeuchi (first author of 2 sources); M. Tilp (senior author of 2 sources); Takamasa Mizuno (senior author of 2 sources).
What each source measured and concluded (9)
randomised controlled trial · 2019
Konrad et al. (2019) — The time course of muscle-tendon properties and function responses of a five-minute static stretching exercise
How it was read
read in full text
meta-analysis · 2023
Takeuchi et al. (2023) — Acute and Long-Term Effects of Static Stretching on Muscle-Tendon Unit Stiffness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
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 17 studies
meta-analysis · 2025
Ingram et al. (2025) — Mechanisms Underlying Range of Motion Improvements Following Acute and Chronic Static Stretching: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis and Multivariate Meta-regression
How it was read
read in full text
What the review says it includes
meta-analysis, systematic review
Studies and participants, as stated
N = 1542 participants across 65 studies
randomised controlled trial · 2017
Hatano et al. (2017) — Hamstring Stiffness Returns More Rapidly After Static Stretching Than Range of Motion, Stretch Tolerance, and Isometric Peak Torque.
How it was read
read in full text
randomised controlled trial · 2020
Konrad et al. (2020) — The acute time course of muscle and tendon tissue changes following one minute of static stretching
How it was read
read in full text
randomised controlled trial · 2021
Støve et al. (2021) — The tolerance to stretch is linked with endogenous modulation of pain
How it was read
read in full text
randomised controlled trial · 2021
Longo et al. (2021) — The effects of 12 weeks of static stretch training on the functional, mechanical, and architectural characteristics of the triceps surae muscle–tendon complex
How it was read
read in full text
non-randomised trial · 2021
Moltubakk et al. (2021) — Altered Triceps Surae Muscle–Tendon Unit Properties after 6 Months of Static Stretching
How it was read
read in full text
meta-analysis · 2023
Takeuchi et al. (2023) — Long‐term static stretching can decrease muscle stiffness: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
How it was read
read in full text
Key sources (9)

Every source below is shown with its study design and links to the original study. This is the audit trail.

randomised controlled trialThe time course of muscle-tendon properties and function responses of a five-minute static stretching exerciseA. Konrad, M. Reiner, S. Thaller, M. Tilp (2019) · European Journal of Sport Science · 10.1080/17461391.2019.1580319 · full text
meta-analysisAcute and Long-Term Effects of Static Stretching on Muscle-Tendon Unit Stiffness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Kosuke Takeuchi, M. Nakamura, Taizan Fukaya, A. Konrad, Takamasa Mizuno (2023) · Journal of Sports Science and Medicine · 10.52082/jssm.2023.464 · full text
meta-analysisMechanisms Underlying Range of Motion Improvements Following Acute and Chronic Static Stretching: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis and Multivariate Meta-regressionLewis A Ingram, Grant R. Tomkinson, N. d'Unienville et al. (2025) · Sports Medicine · 10.1007/s40279-025-02204-7 · full text
randomised controlled trialHamstring Stiffness Returns More Rapidly After Static Stretching Than Range of Motion, Stretch Tolerance, and Isometric Peak Torque.Genki Hatano, Shigeyuki Suzuki, Shingo Matsuo et al. (2017) · Journal of sport rehabilitation · 10.1123/jsr.2017-0203 · full text
randomised controlled trialThe acute time course of muscle and tendon tissue changes following one minute of static stretchingA. Konrad, M. Tilp (2020) · Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS) · 10.15203/ciss_2020.003 · full text
randomised controlled trialThe tolerance to stretch is linked with endogenous modulation of painM. P. Støve, Rogério Pessoto Hirata, T. Skuli Palsson (2021) · Scandinavian Journal of Pain · 10.1515/sjpain-2020-0010 · full text
randomised controlled trialThe effects of 12 weeks of static stretch training on the functional, mechanical, and architectural characteristics of the triceps surae muscle–tendon complexS. Longo, E. Cé, A. Bisconti et al. (2021) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · 10.1007/s00421-021-04654-z · full text
non-randomised trialAltered Triceps Surae Muscle–Tendon Unit Properties after 6 Months of Static StretchingM. M. Moltubakk, F. Villars, M. M. Magulas, S. Magnusson, O. Seynnes, Jens BOJSEN-MØLLER (2021) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 10.1249/mss.0000000000002671 · full text
meta-analysisLong‐term static stretching can decrease muscle stiffness: A systematic review and meta‐analysisKosuke Takeuchi, M. Nakamura, A. Konrad, Takamasa Mizuno (2023) · Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports · 10.1111/sms.14402 · full text
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The full evidence base this focus area draws on, every study with its design and DOI.
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Stretch Tolerance vs. Real Tissue Change