causal
Analysis v1
Strong Support
Doing intense static stretches for four weeks makes your calf muscles much more flexible and less stiff than doing gentle stretches. This happens because the harder stretching changes how the muscle and tendon stretch, making them more pliable without causing damage.
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Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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Community contributions welcome
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Comparison Between High- and Low-Intensity Static Stretching Training Program on Active and Passive Properties of Plantar Flexors
Randomized Controlled Trial
Human
2021Stretching at a higher intensity for four weeks reduced calf muscle stiffness by 57%, which was much more effective than gentle stretching that only reduced it by 24%. This shows that pushing harder during static stretches safely makes the muscles more flexible without weakening them.
Contradicting (0)
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No contradicting evidence found
Gold Standard Evidence Needed
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