Stretching poll
- Thread starter Karky
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To answer your earlier question Karky,
So far I've not seen enough scientific evident to solidly suggest that static stretching prior to exercise or event actually decreases performance. I'm including two contrasting abstracts...
My issue with a lot of the current research is that it hasn't a) compared and contrasted the trade off in athletic performance vs the likelihood of injury (I'm certainly not sold on th research that touts that stretching doesn't prevent injury), b) specifically taken into account regular vs. non-regular stretchers within subject groups, and c) looked at overall athletic performance outside of a few specific activities, especially studies that look specifically at isokinetic activities. I like the meta-analysis that I linked because it takes a deeper look at the difference between regular and non-regular stretchers.
Considering the trade off of performance vs. injury prevention, it's going to be up to the exerciser/athlete to make the call. Chronically, static stretching can, just as any form of stretching, actually increase the risk of injury if done without a proper warm-up, because of the strain that it places on the joint structures which are less elastic than they would be if properly warmed up. I'm not sold on recent research that aims to discount stretching's impact on injury prevention because there are simply too many factors that play into injury during athletic performance. By that same reasoning, there simply isn't sound research supporting that it does prevent injury. Because of this, I have to fall back on the kinematic reasoning that improved range of motion through greater flexibility helps to prevent minor and moderate injuries such as sprains and strains. More severe injuries, such as ACL tears, are generally the result of major failures in joint structures that are not generally affected by stretching.
From an anecdotal standpoint, even the highest level athletes will normally incorporate static stretching into pre-exercise and pre-event warm up. Personally, I've never noticed a negative impact from stretching prior to exercise, but that's just me.
I've actually seen some stuff that supports this, based upon static stretching aiding in circulation and acting as a "reset" for the muscle. Though it could also be because stretching between sets forces you to generally wait around the prescribed amount of rest time before jumping back into the exercise. The key here is that if it works, why fight it?
So far I've not seen enough scientific evident to solidly suggest that static stretching prior to exercise or event actually decreases performance. I'm including two contrasting abstracts...
My issue with a lot of the current research is that it hasn't a) compared and contrasted the trade off in athletic performance vs the likelihood of injury (I'm certainly not sold on th research that touts that stretching doesn't prevent injury), b) specifically taken into account regular vs. non-regular stretchers within subject groups, and c) looked at overall athletic performance outside of a few specific activities, especially studies that look specifically at isokinetic activities. I like the meta-analysis that I linked because it takes a deeper look at the difference between regular and non-regular stretchers.
Considering the trade off of performance vs. injury prevention, it's going to be up to the exerciser/athlete to make the call. Chronically, static stretching can, just as any form of stretching, actually increase the risk of injury if done without a proper warm-up, because of the strain that it places on the joint structures which are less elastic than they would be if properly warmed up. I'm not sold on recent research that aims to discount stretching's impact on injury prevention because there are simply too many factors that play into injury during athletic performance. By that same reasoning, there simply isn't sound research supporting that it does prevent injury. Because of this, I have to fall back on the kinematic reasoning that improved range of motion through greater flexibility helps to prevent minor and moderate injuries such as sprains and strains. More severe injuries, such as ACL tears, are generally the result of major failures in joint structures that are not generally affected by stretching.
From an anecdotal standpoint, even the highest level athletes will normally incorporate static stretching into pre-exercise and pre-event warm up. Personally, I've never noticed a negative impact from stretching prior to exercise, but that's just me.
I've actually seen some stuff that supports this, based upon static stretching aiding in circulation and acting as a "reset" for the muscle. Though it could also be because stretching between sets forces you to generally wait around the prescribed amount of rest time before jumping back into the exercise. The key here is that if it works, why fight it?
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I tried dynamic stretching before and static after my lifting session today. I felt just as loose and there was a slight increase in performance, especially lower body. I'll be damned.
I think I was obsessed with static stretching and did it too much. Maybe doing it that much actually puts stress on the muscle. My neck feels better from not stretching it constantly during my workout today.
I guess the whole idea of fascial stretching between each set that everyone did when I first started lifting is way out now huh? LOL
FF, I don't remember your telling me not to stretch cold, sucka!!
I think I was obsessed with static stretching and did it too much. Maybe doing it that much actually puts stress on the muscle. My neck feels better from not stretching it constantly during my workout today.
I guess the whole idea of fascial stretching between each set that everyone did when I first started lifting is way out now huh? LOL
FF, I don't remember your telling me not to stretch cold, sucka!!
I even went as far as pointing out the time of year, and told you to do jumping jacks (dynamic stretching- hahaha) or whatever it took for you to break a sweat prior. I then said, stretch a little if you want, after you are sweating= and then go run.... why did we go thru all that? WEEEEELLLL- BECAUSE- you were set on the idea that you NEEDED to stretch... you pig headed, iron pressing, super smart guy :luxlove:
now, go iron a short or something! ahhahahaa
Tony.. actually I was talking to Georgen there., I was talking to you about the avie chick :azzangel:
edit p.s. Tony- I read my quote and post again, and let me clear things up with this- I WAS JUST FLAPPIN. sawee fer the confushun.
you pig headed, iron pressing, super smart guy :luxlove:now, go iron a short or something! ahhahahaa
Tony.. actually I was talking to Georgen there., I was talking to you about the avie chick :azzangel:
edit p.s. Tony- I read my quote and post again, and let me clear things up with this- I WAS JUST FLAPPIN. sawee fer the confushun.
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I even went as far as pointing out the time of year, and told you to do jumping jacks (dynamic stretching- hahaha) or whatever it took for you to break a sweat prior. I then said, stretch a little if you want, after you are sweating= and then go run.... why did we go thru all that? WEEEEELLLL- BECAUSE- you were set on the idea that you NEEDED to stretch...
now, go iron a short or something! ahhahahaa
Tony.. actually I was talking to Georgen there., I was talking to you about the avie chick :azzangel:
edit p.s. Tony- I read my quote and post again, and let me clear things up with this- I WAS JUST FLAPPIN. sawee fer the confushun.
Miscommunication: I remember you said in cold weather to warm up my knees "first". I thought you meant before running, not before stretching...to me stretching was part of warming up. Speak more clearly jackass!
Seriously, thanks for the help. I hope to deserve calling myself a runner soon.
both before and after. you have to !
Now I'm completely confused about stretching
Join the club that the research community has belonged to for a very long time now.
Put plainly, there isn't enough conclusive evidence to say for certain that any one flexibility training regiment is better than another. So do whatever feels right and works best for you.
hahahahaha that's it right there! great post. The "research community" :11doh:
how about being a part of the athletic sweating community
great post!
+ rep for this cat!
FF
There's a show my kids watch called "Doodlebops" There's a running gag where one of the characters can't resist pulling on this rope that magically appears even though he knows it will make water dump on his head. Everyone yells "Don't pull the rope!" and I laugh every time because of my juvenile sense of humor.
And yes Karks!! I'm not taking it for granted. I'm pumped my knee doesn't stiffen up anymore (huh huh, I said "stiffen")
Before because it helps get my muscles ready for work After would be good also because it prevents any pain just in case...
After would be good also because it prevents any pain just in case...Before - Dynamic and sometimes between sets, although that's more habitual.
After - Static - if i can be fcukt.
After - Static - if i can be fcukt.