Stretching and Muscle Strain: What's the Difference?

No, you cannot pull a muscle by stretching. However, if you stretch a muscle that has been injured or is otherwise weak, you may feel a sharp or intense pain. This can often be mistaken for a pulled muscle, but in fact it is a response of the muscle's protective mechanisms. Muscles contract rather than pull themselves when stretched, so it is impossible for stretching alone to cause a pulled muscle.