Which of the following is NOT among the six structures stretched prior to stretching a tight structure?

• A. Tendon
• B. Cartilage
• C. Ligaments
• D. Joint capsule

Answer: (B)

When planning a stretch, focus on tissues that actually lengthen with sustained load and contribute to joint range of motion. The structures typically considered for stretching include muscle and the muscle-tendon unit, the surrounding fascia, ligaments, and the joint capsule, with neural tissue sometimes addressed in neurodynamic approaches. These tissues have viscoelastic properties that allow them to elongate or adapt with proper loading.

Cartilage, by contrast, is not a structure that lengthens with stretching. Articular cartilage is avascular and aneural and is designed to distribute loads within a joint rather than to extend lengthwise. It tolerates compression and shear rather than passive elongation, so it isn’t one of the tissues targeted by standard stretching protocols. This is why cartilage is not grouped with the other structures that are stretched when addressing a tight structure.