# Acute Effects of Static Stretching on Submaximal Force Control of the Ankle
## 4 Discussion
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c c} \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Task**} & **Force** & \multirow{2}{*}{**Condition**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Pre**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Post**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Change**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**95\%CI of**} & \multirow{2}{*}{\(p\)**-Value**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Cohen’s \(d\)**} \\  & & & & & **(\%)** & & & **Change (\%)** & \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{High range} & Generation & SS & 1.82 \(\pm\) 0.57 & 1.92 \(\pm\) 0.71 & +5.65 & \(-\)6.85 to 18.16 & \(>\)0.999 & 0.21 \\  & & Control & 1.77 \(\pm\) 0.39 & 1.69 \(\pm\) 0.36 & \(-\)2.07 & \(-\)12.09 to 7.95 & \(>\)0.999 & 0.24 \\  & & SS & 1.82 \(\pm\) 0.72 & 1.47 \(\pm\) 0.42 & \(-\)14.52 & \(-\)26.33 to \(-\)2.79 & 0.030 & 0.79 \\  & & Control & 1.54 \(\pm\) 0.38 & 1.37 \(\pm\) 0.45 & \(-\)10.38 & \(-\)21.80 to 1.05 & 0.446 & 0.46 \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: _Cont._suppression of co-contraction may reduce unnecessary force from antagonist muscles, allowing the agonist to contract more efficiently, which in turn enables more precise and smoother modulation of force output. This mechanism has been supported by previous research showing that improvements in force control are accompanied by reductions in antagonist co-contraction [41]. These results indicate that both the stretching duration and modulation of co-contraction are key factors that influence the acute neuromechanical effects of static stretching on force control. From practical perspectives, the findings of this research suggest that short-duration SS may be a useful preparatory strategy to enhance dynamic force control in tasks that require rapid modulation of submaximal force output. Significant enhancement was observed only during the release phase of the high-range task, where the RMSE showed a statistically significant reduction following SS. This change was supported by a medium effect size ([PERSON]'s \(d=0.79\)), indicating a consistent effect of the intervention. However, its functional relevance should be interpreted with caution. Taken together, these results provide evidence that short-duration static stretching may modestly enhance neuromuscular control, particularly in tasks requiring precise and timely force modulation. Although the findings are limited to a single-session, laboratory-based setting, they suggest a potential foundation for future applications in athletic and rehabilitation contexts. Further research is necessary to determine whether these effects translate to real-world functional performance or long-term outcomes. This study had several limitations that should be acknowledged. First, although a randomized crossover design was employed, the potential influence of learning or task familiarization effects cannot be entirely ruled out. Second, the sample consisted exclusively of healthy young male adults, which restricts the generalizability of the findings to other populations, such as females, older adults, or clinical groups. Third, this study focused solely on plantar flexors, and it remains unclear whether the findings can be generalized to other muscle groups or joints with different anatomical and functional properties. Fourth, the absence of direct neurophysiological assessments (e.g., EMG, reflex responses, or corticospinal excitability) limits the ability to infer the underlying mechanisms responsible for the observed changes in force control. For instance, co-contractions of antagonist muscles may have influenced force regulation, but were not measured in this study. Central neural drive could also have contributed to the force regulation following SS, yet it was not directly assessed. Moreover, the lack of EMG data restricts interpretation of changes in neuromuscular activation strategies. Incorporating such measures in future studies could help clarify whether the SS-induced improvements are driven by changes in muscle activation strategies, neural excitability, or reflex modulation. Fifth, the effects of static stretching are known to be highly time-dependent and may diminish rapidly after intervention.