>>Then why do Professional and Olympic athletes go through elaborate stretching routines before an important event?
Watch sprinters or weight lifters before their events... They are MOVING! If you read the studied, that is posted above, you will see that passive stretching REDUCES force output. That means that it would slow them down, or reduce the amount they could lift, or reduce the vertical leap of the athletes.
>>Why do they suggest having just flexibilty workouts?
Who is "they", and what are their qualifications?
>>Why do we stretch in the morning before we get out of bed?
Are you talking about hopping down on the floor and stretching out, or are you referring to the stretch you do along with yawning and scratching your non-nons? If it is the latter, it is not a 30-60 hold in a deeply held stretched position, which is the type of stretching I am arguing against.
>>If muscle is tight, why do we stretch it?
Again, I am not arguing against flexibility. Let's at least get the symantics straight before we continue this little debate any further.
>>Why is it that the NATA's general guidelines to minimizing the risks say "Players should stretch properly before and after workouts of any kind."?
Define a "proper" stretch. I define a proper stretch as something done with movement. You list no such qualification. I am certified with NFPT, and they recommend passive stretching, but that doesn't make them right. I didn't cease to take in information after passing that test over 15 years ago. I disagree with many points they list as fact in their own manual.
>>Why did we learn about the different types of stretching in our athletic training class?
Did they also teach you to not investigate and continue to learn? There are different methods, but that doesn't make them all applicable in all situations. Quoting renowned strength coach, Bill Hartman:
"The method you choose is dependent on the needs of the individual. In some cases, such as initial rehab, a newbie to stretching, sedentary individuals, etc. static stretching may be "the best" choice. For athletes who perform dynamically with high levels of force and speed, statics will be insufficient due to the stronger neuromuscular component to their flexibility needs.
Some athletes may not need to do a great deal (or any) specialized flexibility work if their program design meets their needs for dynamic flexibility. Using weightlifters again, they do very little in the way of flexibility training once they achieve their extreme levels of flexibility as the deep squats, overhead squats, snatches, and jerks will reinforce dynamic flexibility. I actually train several female golfers who do no supplementary stretching because they are already too hypermobile. Any more additional flexibility makes them unstable and compromises strength and promotes joint wear and tear."
>>Stretching is GOOD! but only if its the right kind of stretching for each person and it is properly done...
Again, you're preaching to the choir.
>>You're not going to stretch a sprinter the same was as a cross country runner...
Exactly how do you train a sprinter differently than a cross country runner?
