Kokkonen, J., Nelson, A. G., & Arnall, D. A. (2001). Acute stretching inhibits strength endurance performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 33(5), Supplement abstract 53.

College students (N = 26) each performed the following: 1) a sit-and-reach test for hamstring flexibility followed by a maximal hamstring strength endurance test, and 2) a sit-and-reach test, followed by 20-min of static stretching exercises for the hamstrings and other muscles, followed by another sit-and-reach test followed by the hamstring strength endurance test. The static stretching routine was partner-assisted and consisted of 30-s static stretch followed by 30-s relaxation for each exercise.

The stretching routine caused a significant decrease in the number of repetitions in the hamstring strength endurance test. It was recommended that heavy static stretching of a muscle group intended for activity should be avoided before performances requiring maximal strength endurance effort.

Implication. Do not overdo stretching before any performance that requires a moderate to high level of intensity (e.g., strength endurance -- muscular endurance).

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