Which stretching technique involves the greatest risk of injury?

Ballistic stretching involves the greatest risk of injury primarily due to its reliance on rapid, bouncing movements to push the body beyond its normal range of motion. This technique can lead to overstretched muscles and tendons because the sudden force can cause strain or tears. Unlike static stretching, which involves holding a position to elongate muscles safely, or dynamic stretching, which incorporates controlled movements to prepare the body for activity, ballistic stretching lacks the stability and control seen in other techniques.

Furthermore, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is a more controlled technique that involves stretching and contracting muscles in a specific way, usually within a supervised setting, making it less likely to cause injury. Therefore, while all stretching techniques come with some degree of risk if performed improperly, ballistic stretching significantly increases the likelihood of injury due to its vigorous and uncontrolled nature.