RESULTS The physiological effects of stretches may contribute to reducing discomfort and pain .
However , if other measures are not in place to remediate their causes , stretches may suppress awareness of risks , result ing in more debilitating injuries .
If inadequately performed , stretches may also cause or aggravate injuries .
The studies provided mixed findings , but demonstrated some beneficial effect of stretching in preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders .
OBJECTIVE This article review ed the literature to clarify the physiological effects and benefits of , and misconceptions about , stretches used to reduce musculoskeletal disorders .
Increasing Hamstring Flexibility Decreases Lower Extremity Overuse Injuries in Military Basic Trainees
The purpose of this intervention study was to prove that increasing flexibility of the hamstring musculotendinous unit would decrease the number of lower extremity overuse injuries that occur in military infantry basic trainees . Two different companies going through basic training at the same time were used . Hamstring flexibility was checked at the beginning and at the end of the 13-week infantry basic training course . The control company ( N 148 ) proceeded through normal basic training . The intervention company ( N 150 ) followed the same program but added three hamstring stretching sessions to their already scheduled fitness program . All subsequent lower extremity overuse injuries were recorded through the troop medical clinic . Hamstring flexibility increased significantly in the intervention group compared with the control group . The number of injuries was also significantly lower in the intervention group . Forty-three injuries occurred in the control group for an incidence rate of 29.1 % , compared with 25 injuries in the intervention group for an incidence rate of 16.7 % . Thus , in this study , the number of lower extremity overuse injuries was significantly lower in infantry basic trainees with increased hamstring flexibility
RESULTS The physiological effects of stretches may contribute to reducing discomfort and pain .
However , if other measures are not in place to remediate their causes , stretches may suppress awareness of risks , result ing in more debilitating injuries .
If inadequately performed , stretches may also cause or aggravate injuries .
The studies provided mixed findings , but demonstrated some beneficial effect of stretching in preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders .
OBJECTIVE This article review ed the literature to clarify the physiological effects and benefits of , and misconceptions about , stretches used to reduce musculoskeletal disorders .