To stretch or not to stretch? (Read 1276 times)

I am still trying to figure out what is best for me. Lately I've not been stretching before a run and then attempting to spend time afterwards to stretch. I've had bad luck with over-stretching my hamstrings so I'm careful with that now.

I thought this comment was interesting. The quote from the article is: "But distance runners do not benefit from being flexible, he found. The most efficient runners, those who exerted the least effort to maintain a pace, were the stiffest." This sort of implies that people who are less naturally flexible are more efficient runners. However, it doesn't really say if a given runner becomes less efficient as they become more flexible. Does that make sense? If they tested 100 people and found that the least flexible people are most efficient, this doesn't tell us whether those people were unflexible because they didn't stretch or because their baseline flexibility was very low.

That is interesting. I know that my 15-year-old son, who is a very efficient long-distance runner, has always been unflexible. On his school physical fitness tests, he's always done well at all of them except the flexibility ones. Hmm, myabe there's hope for me, because I've never come close to being able to touch my toes!

I added easy warm up pace to the beginning and cool dowm + walking to the end of my runs and I finally got rid of nagging leg trouble. After my runs Ido light stretch (it should never conme evn close to hurting) I must add, IT Band stretches are one I still do extensively, as that sucker is a tough one and causes a load of issues when it's tight. Happy to be running pain free again!

I stretch after exercise, just cause it feels good. I don't overstretch, and if it feels like it's straining, I ease up on it. I stretch in the morning (sun salutations) while the shower is heating up. I do yoga a couple times a week, because it feels good, and helps me with stress relief (my shoulders are regularly up around my ears - yoga helps me get them down where they belong!!).

That is interesting. I know that my 15-year-old son, who is a very efficient long-distance runner, has always been unflexible. On his school physical fitness tests, he's always done well at all of them except the flexibility ones. Hmm, myabe there's hope for me, because I've never come close to being able to touch my toes!

T, I am horribly inflexible too. I cannot touch my toes without bending my knees. It did get better when I was doing Tae Kwon Do, but as soon as I stopped the regular stretching it all tightened back up. I did Pilates once a week for 6 mos a couple of years ago and got a little more flexible, but not like with TKD. Curiously my hip flexors are very flexible for some reason.

I think you all know my thoughts on stretching. I went to a podiatrist recently just for a check up on orthotics. He tested my calf flexibility. AND I have been religiously stretching my calves for 15 years (at his request and it has helped big time) since I got my orthotics when dealing with shin splints. He still says I will have better foot function (which affects everything "up") if my calves were even more flexible. I couldn't believe it. I know of no one who has more flexible calves than me. BTW, I can face the wall and slowly work my way back to where I am at a 45 degree angle to wall and barely touching wall while keeping heels down and still barely getting a stretch. I can easily squat all the way down and keep heels on floor. My point is, here is a professional who says my body (feet and up) will function even better and with increased efficiency with increased flexiblilty in gastrocnemius and soleus. He is not making this up.

For many people stretching causes more injuries than it prevents.

That's definitely the case for me.