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This review presents the methods used to investigate the effects of various stretching protocols on muscular force and performance, in light of current individual and elite athlete stretching practices in their warm-up routines. A meta-analysis of peer-reviewed articles between the years of 2000 and 2007 revealed the majority of studies support the notion that static stretching is detrimental to muscular force and performance. However, the meta-analysis also revealed that the protocols used do not necessarily match current practice with many elite athletes. This article proposes, based on the mismatch between research and practice, that further studies must address this issue in further exploring the role of stretching in pre-training and competition warm-up routines.

Pickett, C. W., Abbiss, C., Zois, J., & Blazevich, A. J. (2021). Pacing and stroke kinematics in 200-m kayak racing. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(10), 1096-1104. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1859242

Pickett, C. W., Nosaka, K., Zois, J., & Blazevich, A. J. (2021). Relationships between midthigh pull force development and 200-m race performance in highly trained kayakers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 35(10), 2853-2861. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003235

Talukdar, K., Cronin, J., Zois, J., & Sharp, A. P. (2015). The role of rotational mobility and power on throwing velocity. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 29(4), 905-911. Available here

Pickett, C. W., Nosaka, K., Zois, J., Hopkins, W. G., & Blazevich, A. J. (2018). Maximal upper-body strength and oxygen uptake are associated with performance in high-level 200-m sprint kayakers. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 32(11), 3186-3192. Available here.