Does stretch training induce muscle hypertrophy in humans? A review of the literature

doi:10.1111/cpf.12622

Review

. 2020 May;40(3):148-156.

doi: 10.1111/cpf.12622. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Does stretch training induce muscle hypertrophy in humans? A review of the literature

João Pedro Nunes¹, Brad J Schoenfeld², Masatoshi Nakamura³, Alex S Ribeiro^{1

4}, Paolo M Cunha¹, Edilson S Cyrino¹

Affiliations

¹ Metabolism, Nutrition, and Exercise Laboratory, Physical Education and Sport Center, Londrina State University, Londrina, Brazil.
² Department of Health Sciences, Lehman College, Bronx, NY, USA.
³ Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.
⁴ Center for Research in Health Sciences, University of Northern Paraná, Londrina, Brazil.

PMID: 31984621
DOI: 10.1111/cpf.12622

Review

Does stretch training induce muscle hypertrophy in humans? A review of the literature

João Pedro Nunes et al. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 2020 May.

. 2020 May;40(3):148-156.

doi: 10.1111/cpf.12622. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Authors

João Pedro Nunes¹, Brad J Schoenfeld², Masatoshi Nakamura³, Alex S Ribeiro^{1

4}, Paolo M Cunha¹, Edilson S Cyrino¹

Affiliations

¹ Metabolism, Nutrition, and Exercise Laboratory, Physical Education and Sport Center, Londrina State University, Londrina, Brazil.
² Department of Health Sciences, Lehman College, Bronx, NY, USA.
³ Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.
⁴ Center for Research in Health Sciences, University of Northern Paraná, Londrina, Brazil.

PMID: 31984621
DOI: 10.1111/cpf.12622

Abstract

Stretch training is widely used in a variety of fitness-related capacities such as increasing joint range of motion, preventing contractures and alleviating injuries. Moreover, some researches indicate that stretch training may induce muscle hypertrophy; however, studies on the topic have been primarily relegated to animal and in vitro models. The purpose of this brief review was to evaluate whether stretch training is a viable strategy to induce muscle hypertrophy in humans. An extensive literature search was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO and Scopus databases, using terms related to stretching and muscle hypertrophy. Only human trials that evaluated changes in measures of muscle size or architecture following training protocols that it was performed stretching exercises were selected for inclusion. Of the 10 studies identified, 3 observed some significantly positive effects of stretch training on muscle structure. Intriguingly, in these studies, the stretching was carried out with an apparatus that aided in its performance, or with an external overload. In all studies, the subjects performed stretching at their own self-determined range of motion, and no effect was observed. Of the 5 available studies that integrated stretching into a resistance training programme, 2 applied the stretching in the interset rest period and were the ones that showed enhanced muscle growth. In conclusion, passive, low-intensity stretch does not appear to confer beneficial changes in muscle size and architecture; alternatively, albeit limited evidence suggests that when stretching is done with a certain degree of tensile strain (particularly when loaded, or added between active muscle contractions) may elicit muscle hypertrophy.

Keywords: fascicle length; flexibility; muscle thickness; pennation angle; protein synthesis; resistance training; stretching.

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References

REFERENCES

1. Akagi, R., & Takahashi, H. (2014). Effect of a 5-week static stretching program on hardness of the gastrocnemius muscle. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24, 950-957. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12111
1. Ando, R., Taniguchi, K., Saito, A., Fujimiya, M., Katayose, M., & Akima, H. (2014). Validity of fascicle length estimation in the vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius using ultrasonography. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 24, 214-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.01.003
1. Antonio, J., & Gonyea, W. J. (1993a). Progressive stretch overload of skeletal muscle results in hypertrophy before hyperplasia. Journal of Applied Physiology, 75, 1263-1271. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1993.75.3.1263
1. Antonio, J., & Gonyea, W. J. (1993b). Skeletal muscle fiber hyperplasia. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 25, 1333-1345. https://doi.org/10.1249/00005768-199312000-00004
1. Atherton, P. J., Szewczyk, N. J., Selby, A., Rankin, D., Hillier, K., Smith, K., … Loughna, P. T. (2009). Cyclic stretch reduces myofibrillar protein synthesis despite increases in FAK and anabolic signalling in L6 cells. The Journal of Physiology, 587, 3719-3727. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2009.169854

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[1] Akagi, R., & Takahashi, H. (2014). Effect of a 5-week static stretching program on hardness of the gastrocnemius muscle. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24, 950-957. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12111

[2] Akagi, R., & Takahashi, H. (2014). Effect of a 5-week static stretching program on hardness of the gastrocnemius muscle. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24, 950-957. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12111

[3] Ando, R., Taniguchi, K., Saito, A., Fujimiya, M., Katayose, M., & Akima, H. (2014). Validity of fascicle length estimation in the vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius using ultrasonography. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 24, 214-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.01.003

[4] Ando, R., Taniguchi, K., Saito, A., Fujimiya, M., Katayose, M., & Akima, H. (2014). Validity of fascicle length estimation in the vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius using ultrasonography. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 24, 214-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.01.003

[5] Antonio, J., & Gonyea, W. J. (1993a). Progressive stretch overload of skeletal muscle results in hypertrophy before hyperplasia. Journal of Applied Physiology, 75, 1263-1271. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1993.75.3.1263

[6] Antonio, J., & Gonyea, W. J. (1993a). Progressive stretch overload of skeletal muscle results in hypertrophy before hyperplasia. Journal of Applied Physiology, 75, 1263-1271. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1993.75.3.1263

[7] Antonio, J., & Gonyea, W. J. (1993b). Skeletal muscle fiber hyperplasia. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 25, 1333-1345. https://doi.org/10.1249/00005768-199312000-00004

[8] Antonio, J., & Gonyea, W. J. (1993b). Skeletal muscle fiber hyperplasia. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 25, 1333-1345. https://doi.org/10.1249/00005768-199312000-00004

[9] Atherton, P. J., Szewczyk, N. J., Selby, A., Rankin, D., Hillier, K., Smith, K., … Loughna, P. T. (2009). Cyclic stretch reduces myofibrillar protein synthesis despite increases in FAK and anabolic signalling in L6 cells. The Journal of Physiology, 587, 3719-3727. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2009.169854

[10] Atherton, P. J., Szewczyk, N. J., Selby, A., Rankin, D., Hillier, K., Smith, K., … Loughna, P. T. (2009). Cyclic stretch reduces myofibrillar protein synthesis despite increases in FAK and anabolic signalling in L6 cells. The Journal of Physiology, 587, 3719-3727. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2009.169854

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Does stretch training induce muscle hypertrophy in humans? A review of the literature

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Does stretch training induce muscle hypertrophy in humans? A review of the literature

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