Throughout pre-stressing operation at one end, frictional losses resolve occur and pre-stressing force decreases along a length of tendon until reaching other end. These frictional losses include a friction induced due to change of curvature of tendon duct and also shake effect due to deviation of duct alignment from a centreline. Therefore, pre stress force in the mid-span or at another end would be greatly reduced in case frictional loss is high. Consequently, pre stressing, from both ends for single span for example pre stressing one-half of total tendons at one finish and remaining half at another end is carried out to allow an even distribution and to provide symmetry of pre-stress force along structure.

In actuality, stress at one end only has the potential benefit of lower price when compared with stressing from both ends. For multiple spans as in two spans with not the same span length, jacking is usually approved out at an end of a longer span so to provide a higher pre stress force at location of maximum positive moment. On opposing, jacking from an end of shorter span will be conducted if a negative moment at intermediate support controls pre stress force. However, if total span length is sufficiently long, jacking from the both ends has to be considered.