How important is stretching to training? Traditional wisdom says do it to avoid/minimize injury and (perhaps) improve performance by lengthening muscles. New ideas (from physio) suggest that the only necessary stretching is to maintain balance (i.e. stretch only one side to ensure same flexibility on both sides), providing that there is adequate flexibility for the sport (meaning there are different requirements for runners than gymnasts).
Thoughts on this?
ccy
ccy,
It has generally been established that rested muscles are like dry sponges. Not as supple, ready or capable of work as muscles that have been mildly exercised (read: warmed up) and filled with blood.
For these reasons, it is generally recommended to stretch after mild exercise (again read: warmed up). This mild exercise stimulates circulation in the muscle tissues and saturates these tissues with nutrients, necessary electrolytes, and catalysts that will be required for working hard (read: workout).
Personally, I have found cycling to be a much more comfortable and natural activity after stretching than if I skip stretching. I also don’t feel as stiff and sore after a hard workout if I stretched properly.
Frequently a cyclist will be confronted with the term, “flexibility”. Stretching is an excellent means of increasing and maintaining flexibility. A cyclist’s flexibility will be far greater if he regularly stretches than if he skips stretching altogether.
Some have said that stretching does not help to prevent injury, but , I believe, this is often as a result of not stretching properly, as in not warming up before stretching. When done properly, I am convinced, stretching does reduce the likelihood of injury and the severity of any injury.
If you are too busy to stretch or if flexibility is not an issue for you, you may feel that you can skip stretching without any deleterious consequences. You are your own boss.
Along the same lines, the manufacturer’s of Ensure claim it is a source of “complete balanced nutrition”. Why not cut out regular dining and meals and just drink lots of Ensure?
Some have said that stretching does not help to prevent injury
Wants2ridefast, I agree with what you are saying 99%. But I believe that the above statement would properly apply to stretching before excercising. I seem to remember one of the latest reports I read on stretching said “no discernable benefit resulted from stretching before an activity” and of course I can’t remember where I saw that. I have seen in multiple sources reference to the benifits of a regular stretching routine in injury reduction. Gotta go, thje pizza is done.