Stretching before exercise could be detrimental

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Personal trainers have long extolled the virtues of a gentle warm-up before exercise, but new research says stretching muscles ahead of exercising could be bad for our bodies.

Scientists have concluded that stretching can in fact weaken muscles and the habit of holding a stretch for 20 to 30 seconds – known as static stretching – should not be promoted.

The findings from the University of Nevada highlight that two common stretches many of us perform before running – one for the hamstrings and one for the quadriceps – can lower our performance by weakening muscles.

Professor Bill Holcomb, who wrote the report concluded: 'Developing flexibility is important for reducing sports injury, but the time to stretch is after, not before performance.

Previous studies have deduced that pre-exercise stretching can weaken muscles by as much as 30%.

Instead of static stretches, experts explain that the correct way to prepare the body for aerobic exercise is by loosening muscles and tendons and warming up the body. A warm-up should involve aerobic activity such as light jogging.

Tuesday 4 November 2008

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My own experience as a hiker (sometimes on mountainous path) still favours static stretching before activity. It certainly reduces muscle pain after a strenuous hiking.
Comment by Yari on March 26 05:48

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