Topic: Don't stretch before running

[Big daddy Eis]

I figure I'll just stress for her to let me know if/when it starts to hurt so we can slow down or stop.

sounds like a good plan, last thing you want her to do is hurt her self, and push it to the point where she causes more pain.

[keetedw]

Yep, I'm all about a warm up before doing anything strenuous.  I thought this was good news as my daughter's keeping interested in soccer and I know a number of light effort drills that will warm her up, get her heart rate up and get her ready for a full practice.

I figure I'll just stress for her to let me know if/when it starts to hurt so we can slow down or stop.

[Big daddy Eis]

another thing i have hear is in the middle of what you guys are talking about, and that is start off on a slow job for a half mile or so, warm the muscles up, then stop and stretch out a little, then go on your run.  Warms the muscles up and get s them lose, then stretch them for a few so you do not pull a muscle or what not.  I have tried this a few times and found that the run felt better. (i was too stiff when i tried no stretching at all)  Just a thought though.

[z_randy]

I've heard that also that the problem is that stretching is static and isn't really warming the muscles up.  I still stretch though as it's part of the routine and I feel even more stiff if I don't.  Helps get me mentally into it.  But I understand what they are saying.  Thanks for the article!

[keetedw]

I'd heard rumors about how stretching could actually cause problems before an athletic effort or running.  I'd stopped most of my stretching at a younger age because I'd never noticed an impact, pro or con, to those times I did stretch vs. those times I didn't.  Figured I'd get loose just by starting a bit slow or doing something aerobic before I get into the larger efforts.

Or it could just be that I wanted to play sooner.

Either way, it turns out that stretching has absolutely no impact to injury prevention before running.  Tests have apparently also shown that static stretching causes your muscles to attempt to "protect" themselves by tightening up (high jumpers cannot jump as high after a bout of static stretching).

The only warning given in the referenced article is that any behavior you're doing today, slowly stop doing it.  If you stretch today, your body may be used to it and expect that stretching, so it could lead to injury if you stop cold turkey.

Interesting article and findings.  For those coaches of youth sports out there, this should give you 5-10 minutes of your practice back! 

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/phys-ed-does-stretching-before-running-prevent-injuries/