USATF Stretch Study

USATF is conducting a study to determine the effect of pre-run stretching on running injuries. The purpose of the study is to determine specifically if pre-run stretching of the three major leg muscle groups is beneficial for overall injury prevention or reduction. The study is not examining in-run or post-run stretching.

Background

Many studies have been conducted to understand the impact of stretching or warm-ups on the risk of injury, but with conflicting results. A broad review of "stretching" has not conclusively determined whether a pre-run static stretch protects runners from injury during their routine training.  See the Study Protocol for more information.

Getting Involved

We are soliciting volunteers to participate in this study. Each participant will be randomly assigned to stretch or not to stretch before their usual running routine. Those assigned to stretch will follow a detailed protocol of stretches of the hamstring, quadricep and calf muscles for a total of 4 minutes over a period of 3 months. Participants are free to stretch as they normally would (e.g., post-run cool-down stretching), except during the pre-run period (when they must following the "stretch" or "no-stretch" protocol).

Requirements for Joining the Study

In order to join this study, you must:

• be 13 years or older
• be injury-free for at least 6 weeks prior to enrolling
• be running at least 10 miles per week
• be able to run for at least 3 months (the duration of the study)
• be willing to commit (after being randomly assigned) to either pre-run stretching or no stretching for your running routine

Study Process

The length of the study is 3 months for each individual. Participants are to follow their assigned protocol ("stretch" or "no-stretch") for those 3 months and to report injuries during their participation in the study.

1. You will join the study by filling out a questionnaire that asks for information about your running level and relevant medical status. The information will remain private and be used only for statistical analysis of study results.
2. You will then be randomly assigned to either a stretching group or a non-stretching group. We ask you to be as diligent as possible in following the protocol for your group before your runs.
   • The non-stretching group will be asked to continue their normal running habits without a pre-run stretch. If your normal routine is to stretch after or at some other time, you may continue to do so. You may also do pre-run stretching other than the 3 muscle groups under study.
   • The stretching group will be asked to perform a series of three stretches before each run. If your normal routine is to stretch after or at some other time, you may continue to do so. You may also add other stretches to your pre-run stretching.
3. If you experience an injury, please report it using the Injury Report Form. An injury is defined as any impairment which prohibits you from participating in your normal running routine for at least 3 days. Injuries should be reported 3 weeks following the injury so we can learn how you handled your injury.
4. At the end of the study period, you'll be asked to complete a post-study Wrap-Up that includes, among other questions, how well you stuck to the protocol for your group and other feedback you have on your experience. If you didn't have any injuries, you will confirm that at this time. If you experienced an injury, we ask that you wait 3 weeks after the injury to complete the Wrap-Up and Injury Report.

Risks of participation: This study is important because we don't know whether a pre-run stretch will cause or prevent injury. It is possible that participants who are assigned to stretch or not stretch will experience more injuries. Also, even if stretching or not stretching is found to prevent injuries, when we analyze the entire group, every individual is different and stretching or not stretching may not prevent you from experiencing an injury. If injuries require medical attention, participants are asked to use the medical services and health insurance that they would be using outside the study. Participants may terminate participation in the study at any time.

Study Length

Although each participant's individual role will only last for 3 months, the overall study will be open to new participants until there is enough evidence to make statistically relevant conclusions. The results of the study will be made public and will be valuable to runners throughout the country and throughout the world. We urge those runners, be they sprinters, road runners, trail runners or ultra runners, who would like to contribute to this knowledge, who have no bias about stretching or non-stretching and who otherwise meet the criteria, to visit the USATF website to sign up for the study.

About the Study

Because the Stretch Study is medical research on human subjects, it was important to have it approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB). It was approved by the IRB of Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, MD, on April 9, 2007.