@Article{Alessandria2026,
journal="Biology of Sport",
issn="0860-021X",
year="2026",
title="The effects of 1 and 3 minutes of static stretching applied to a single lower limb on gait cycle and balance control",
abstract="  Previous studies have investigated the effects of different volumes of stretching on ROM, flexibility, and sport performance, specifically showing that unilateral static stretching (SS) improves contralateral hip flexion ROM and reduces force generation in the unstretched limb. To the best of our knowledge, no study has investigated the effects of SS on walking and balance control. Our aim was to compare the effects of two different durations of unilateral SS exercises on gait, podobarometric, and stabilometric variables. Thirty healthy adults were randomized into two groups: one-minute (1M) and three-minute stretching (3M). After the baseline measurement, both groups performed calf stretching on the dominant lower limb at the highest possible intensity. A further round of tests was then performed. A significant difference in the main effect of time was seen in left lower limb stride length (p = 0.031) with an average increase of 4.6 cm (3.5%), while the Mann-Whitney U test revealed significant differences after the intervention between the 1M group and the 3M group (p = 0.010). In addition, the Wilcoxon test revealed significant differences for the maximum pressure of the right fifth metatarsal between the baseline value and the value after the intervention for the 3M group (p = 0.041). The results show that unilateral lower limb SS determines gait asymmetry regardless of the volume administered, but three minutes are required to reduce forefoot pressure. Unilateral SS must therefore be carefully planned – in terms of duration and intensity – to avoid functional asymmetries, pain, and restrictions in musculoskeletal structures. ",
author="Alessandria, Marco
and Bragazzi, Nicola
and Peyré-Tartarug, Leonardo Alexandre
and Giorgio, Andrea De",
pages="105--113",
doi="10.5114/biolsport.2025.151655",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.151655"
}