Stretching is usually done in one of three ways: 1 – In a Yoga session, where it is performed with precision and purpose; 2 – Before and/or after a workout, when it is done as more of an afterthought; or 3 – Not at all. Save for the first way mentioned, stretching is something most people kind of do (or don’t do) because they think they’re supposed to. It loosens you up before exercising and it helps ease muscle tension caused by a workout. But does it really do those things?
The fact of the matter is, there exists plenty of research (including this article from the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise) that suggests stretching doesn’t do anything in the way of preventing injury. What’s more, some studies even show that pre-exercise stretching can reduce strength and power during a workout. Does that mean that we are just wasting our time?
Not entirely. Just as there’s plenty of evidence suggesting that stretching is worthless, there’s also a surfeit that touts the myriad benefits. Most recently, the National Institute of Health released the results of a study showing that stretching and strength training twice a week may help reduce the risk of exercise-related injury by as much as 45 percent.
So, until we know for sure whether all that reaching, twisting, and contorting is either good or bad for us, I guess it’s a personal judgment call. If it works for you — great. Keep doing it. If you hate it, well, it seems as though you can safely do without it… depending on which study you believe, that is.
See more on stretching and flexibility.
More like this in Exercise Feb 2, 2009
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