What Are the Epidemiological Methods Used to Study Stretching?

Several epidemiological methods are employed to study the effects of stretching. These include:

- Cross-sectional studies: These studies assess the prevalence of stretching habits and their association with musculoskeletal health at a single point in time.
- Cohort studies: These longitudinal studies follow groups of individuals over time to observe the incidence of injuries or musculoskeletal disorders among those who stretch regularly versus those who do not.
- Randomized controlled trials (RCTs): RCTs are considered the gold standard for determining causality. Participants are randomly assigned to stretching and non-stretching groups to compare outcomes.