One of the most common age-related changes to the musculoskeletal system is a reduction in range of motion (ROM) and muscle flexibility. This can often contribute to reduced joint mobility and functionality in elders.

The concept of stretching is somewhat controversial within the physiotherapy community with conflicting evidence being available regarding its efficacy over the medium and long term, with most research being conducted in younger populations.

Furthermore, there exists controversy regarding optimal dosage parameters for stretching, specifically in the elderly population. It has been previously shown that younger and elder muscle tissue reacts similarly immediately after muscle stretching, however, its medium-term effect on ROM has not been empirically investigated.