About this Research Topic
Stretching exercises have been used extensively to increase range of motion of a joint or improve muscle flexibility. The mechanisms behind these improvements can be attributed to modification of the visco-elastic properties of muscles and connective tissues, decreased neural excitability and decreased pain perception. Despite flexibility being considered an important physical component for a long time, recent evidence suggests that other physical fitness components may be more useful to promote health.
Flexibility may not specifically correlate to health, even though several effects have been discovered, such as decreased arterial stiffness, decreased blood pressure and heart rate, improved endothelial function, decreased peripheral nerve stiffness, increased pain tolerance and modifications in connective tissue and muscle-tendon unit properties. Many of these instead, are independent factors strongly related to human health. The goal of this Research Topic is to increase knowledge regarding the potential effects of stretching in healthy individuals and/or those with disease, on aspects which do not specifically relate to flexibility, but may impact health of individuals through responses of different tissue mechanical properties.
Given that specific effects have recently been identified regarding stretching as a form of exercise, which go beyond those applicable to improved flexibility, the aim of this Research Topic will be to collect papers that discuss the responses of stretching on muscle architecture, connective tissue properties, vessels and nerves.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Identification of effects regarding autonomic balance
• Possible neurovascular effects in pathological cohorts
• Chronic effects on tissue compliance and fascial movement
We welcome original submissions addressing these or similar topics. Original Research articles demonstrating high academic standards coupled with concrete practical implications will be prioritized.
Flexibility may not specifically correlate to health, even though several effects have been discovered, such as decreased arterial stiffness, decreased blood pressure and heart rate, improved endothelial function, decreased peripheral nerve stiffness, increased pain tolerance and modifications in connective tissue and muscle-tendon unit properties. Many of these instead, are independent factors strongly related to human health. The goal of this Research Topic is to increase knowledge regarding the potential effects of stretching in healthy individuals and/or those with disease, on aspects which do not specifically relate to flexibility, but may impact health of individuals through responses of different tissue mechanical properties.
Given that specific effects have recently been identified regarding stretching as a form of exercise, which go beyond those applicable to improved flexibility, the aim of this Research Topic will be to collect papers that discuss the responses of stretching on muscle architecture, connective tissue properties, vessels and nerves.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Identification of effects regarding autonomic balance
• Possible neurovascular effects in pathological cohorts
• Chronic effects on tissue compliance and fascial movement
We welcome original submissions addressing these or similar topics. Original Research articles demonstrating high academic standards coupled with concrete practical implications will be prioritized.
Keywords: Stretching, Muscle-tendon Unit, Vascular Responses, Peripheral Nerve Responses, Fascia
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
