A eficácia do alongamento na prevenção de lesões esportivas: uma revisão bibliográfica

Abstract

Stretching is widely adopted in sports settings as a preventive strategy against musculoskeletal injuries and is commonly integrated into athletes’ warm-up and cool-down routines. However, the actual effectiveness of this practice has been increasingly debated in recent scientific literature, particularly regarding different stretching types, their impact on physical performance, and their role in injury prevention. This study conducted a systematic literature review to critically evaluate current scientific evidence on the topic, focusing on static and dynamic stretching modalities. Articles were selected from PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases, emphasizing publications from the last ten years. Findings suggest that dynamic stretching offers greater preventive potential by enhancing muscle activation without impairing performance, whereas static stretching, when performed immediately before activity, may reduce muscle strength and power. The literature also highlights the need for a multifactorial approach to injury prevention, incorporating strength training, proprioceptive exercises, and sport-specific warm-ups. It is concluded that stretching alone is insufficient as a stand-alone injury prevention measure and should be integrated with other evidence-based strategies.