Static Stretching Decreases Muscle Strength
Posted on November 11, 2008 Comments (2)
Researchers now believe that some of the more entrenched elements of many athletes’ warm-up regimens are not only a waste of time but actually bad for you. The old presumption that holding a stretch for 20 to 30 seconds – known as static stretching – primes muscles for a workout is dead wrong. It actually weakens them.
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A well-designed warm-up starts by increasing body heat and blood flow.
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To raise the body’s temperature, a warm-up must begin with aerobic activity, usually light jogging. Most coaches and athletes have known this for years.
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Athletes who need to move rapidly in different directions, like soccer, tennis or basketball players, should do dynamic stretches that involve many parts of the body. “Spider-Man” is a particularly good drill: drop onto all fours and crawl the width of the court, as if you were climbing a wall.
…
A well-designed warm-up starts by increasing body heat and blood flow.
…
To raise the body’s temperature, a warm-up must begin with aerobic activity, usually light jogging. Most coaches and athletes have known this for years.
…
Athletes who need to move rapidly in different directions, like soccer, tennis or basketball players, should do dynamic stretches that involve many parts of the body. “Spider-Man” is a particularly good drill: drop onto all fours and crawl the width of the court, as if you were climbing a wall.
Related: Scientific Misinformation – Research on Reducing Hamstring Injuries – Exercise to Reduce Fatigue
Posted by curiouscat
Categories: Science, Sports, Students
Tags: exercise, medical research, Science, science facts, scientific inquiry, Sports
Categories: Science, Sports, Students
Tags: exercise, medical research, Science, science facts, scientific inquiry, Sports
2 Responses to “Static Stretching Decreases Muscle Strength”
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November 12th, 2008 @ 12:52 am
I’ve been an athlete ever since I was a little kid. The days I feel the best are definitely days when I start my workout with a nice jog to warm up, instead of simple stretching. I never understood why, but now I’ve made the connection. It really seems to make sense! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject and enlightening us all.
November 12th, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
That’s a whole generation of athletes that will have to be re educated if that’s true. You just have to watch tv coverage of a marathon to see 100’s of competitors warming up by static stretching before a race.