INTRODUCTION: Stretching is a common method in sport and physical therapy practice. Different methods are known and the effectiveness of these interventions is discussed controversial. This review addresses the effectiveness of stretching and the hamstrings serve as an example. METHOD: Literature search was carried out in the databases of Medline, Cochrane and PEDro. Studies, which defined the improvement of the range of motion as outcome, were included. If participants had injury of hamstrings or other pathology the paper was excluded. RESULTS: One review and nine RCTs were included in this review. The studies explored the improvement of flexibility via stretching but also the extent of influence of parameters like duration and position. Range of motion could be improved through all interventions by stretching of the hamstrings. The other parameters had rated very differently. CONCLUSION: A single effective performance of stretching of the hamstrings could not be found in this review because of the controversial results in literature.

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