Doc vindicated (again)!!

[DamienC]

http://triathlete-europe.competitor.com/2010/08/03/stretching-good/

[bob]

i love it how these discussions go.

first somebody invents the need to stretch, then everybody starts writing about stretching, then everybody stretches without giving it a second thought and then somebody does a scientific study only to find out that there was never a need to stretch at all.

Looks a lot like the evolution of training with weights and core stability.

[Paul Hank]

Sorry, I'm certainly not saying I disagree with the article, but without specifically naming the studies it mentions it is next to useless.
Unless it contains acknowledgments then it is just a load of waffle.....why should anyone believe what it says over any other unsubstantiated source?

That said, I don't stretch much and only ever after a session, never before....

[Matthieu O’Halloran - "M@"]

Hey the major issue with streching, is that it can lead to a self inflicted injury!

On the other hand I seen many athletes in the squad, current and past,
do some light streching, according to what they feel there and then.
Nothing extreme, just tweaking the body.

I think that getting a massage is a form of light streching.

In my mind best option when feeling stiff, is hit the sauna

Oh and streching an injury is risky...

[doc]

dont worry all the mugs will be out pooh hooing the findings not to even mention all the other hangers on that make money out of it
plus the physios that make money out of "fixing the stretchers "
who get injuries because of stretching .
our sport is not a range of motion sport as a coach , of some note when i trained sprinters ,i stretched them ,to get strong tendons at the end of their range of motion .
hurdlers need to stretch .
but in sports of no range of motion needed its a croc of shit .
does that explain my thoughts clearly ?
however loosening is encouraged and when tight, we advise steam room or sauna lift the muscle temperature then light  loosen and stretch is appropriate , when body has been heated to
like 45 ç
dont bother you flexibility drones , about writing back about the need for flexibility to stop injury
here is a statistic for
you in 8 or so sports i coached i can state that one3 thing they all had in common from as diverse as boxing to squash
the most flexible were the most injured
go figure

[Paul Hank]

Aha, I'm not pooh hooing anything, merely questioning the article - surely it is wise to query and not take everything at face value?

I have to say though, that while studies and lab tests have their place, nothing beats plain old first hand experience.....and there is a whole lot of good experience here

[doc]

paul ,
dont get me wrong not having ago at people like you r other peoples right to stretch but its the vested interest people that  annoy me.
they have no real practical experience  in the area and promote it like a religion .
as a coach i hav e used it and would again depending on the sports requirements ,just in this sport their are no range of motion issues.

[Keegan Williams - "kiwiman"]

I have heard this quote in regard to distance runners stretching

"did you ever see a race horse having a stretch before a race"

[Dead Keen]

I have heard this quote in regard to distance runners stretching

"did you ever see a race horse having a stretch before a race"

I don't stretch, but that's not a good example as soon as they see me put my trainers on, both my dogs get out of bed and stretch    But they don't stretch after!

[doc]

there you go ,
inadvertently brought up a very good point .
your dogs loosen up by pressuring there limbs
this could be called stretching
so not to be confused
loosening up is different from the real stretching people are put thru ,
i dont think your dogs
xross ing the legs the pushing down with front paws to create a figure 4 then place pressure on it with a balistic stretch.
or putting front paw over head then with other one pull it across their body
right there dead keen or his dogs have nailed it .
loosen up with in their range of motion
then out the door .
same with horses ,
i did alway pick the fronnt legs up and give them a shake to loosen and relax before i put the saddles on em
back legs to on some
only some as they could use you as their ballistic stretch if hey were not in the mood for stretching