Static Stretching Before a Workout: Myths vs. Facts

Holding lengthy stretches was thought-about an integral a part of any warm-up earlier than a exercise. Suppose: the toe touches you used to do earlier than soccer follow, or bringing your foot to your butt to stretch your quads earlier than Jazzercise class. However in recent times, this method, often called static stretching, has gotten a nasty rap. As claims that static stretching hurts athletic efficiency have hit the health mainstream, the pendulum has swung in the direction of dynamic-only warm-ups, the place you’re regularly shifting out and in of stretches moderately than sitting in them for prolonged durations.

Nonetheless, as tends to occur when the pendulum swings too far in a single course, the overall, binary recommendation of “don’t static stretch earlier than train” misses out on a number of nuances and particulars.

“The paradigm shift in recent times from static to dynamic stretching—though rooted partly in analysis—has missed the mark as additional analysis has given us extra particulars on when static stretching is definitely efficient and when it isn’t,” says bodily therapist Kristina Kam, DPT, of Quantum Performance in California. “It’s not as black and white as ‘don’t do any static stretches previous to exercise.’ There are a number of situations when static stretching can actually enable you, relying on components reminiscent of your particular coaching program, how lengthy you’re holding it for, and so forth.”

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Why the avoidance of static stretching is misguided

Sure, there’s research showing that static stretching previous to actions can cut back muscle power, endurance, and presumably efficiency. Nonetheless, and that is essential, that impact solely takes place throughout very particular circumstances.

Firstly, the unique analysis that turned us all off from holding our stretches discovered that sitting in static stretches for longer than 60 seconds may cut back muscle power, endurance, and energy. However even in these circumstances, these attributes have been solely decreased for a couple of minutes and didn’t include any change in beneficial properties in power, endurance, or energy from coaching. That means: A exercise after static stretching is not any much less efficient; your muscular tissues simply may not carry out fairly as successfully straight afterwards.

Secondly, further research has discovered that moderate-duration static stretching—round 30 to 45 seconds, on this research—can enhance vary of movement with out eliciting any discernible damaging influence on exercise or athletic efficiency. This could possibly be significantly helpful when you’re concerned in actions like yoga, soccer, or Pilates that require excessive ranges of flexibility.

Additionally, there’s significant research displaying that when static stretching was used as a part of a complete routine—significantly when it’s paired with dynamic stretching and sport-specific warm-ups—there was no damaging impact on power or efficiency.

To sum that every one up: Static stretching when carried out for lower than 60 seconds and as a part of a complete warm-up routine can enhance vary of movement whereas having no damaging influence on how nicely your muscular tissues carry out. Nor will it lower the #beneficial properties you get out of your exercise.

Are there different issues to contemplate?

The important thing to static stretching earlier than figuring out it to take it simple. “You possibly can injure your self when you’re too aggressive with stretching and for too lengthy—reminiscent of together with your hamstrings—and when you’re utilizing stretching within the short-term part after damage, it may truly make the damage worse!” says Dr. Kam. (Consider pulling on a rubber band that’s already partially torn, it’s most likely a nasty concept!)

However with the fitting method, static stretching can prep your physique to tackle greater actions, and there may additionally be some optimistic psychological advantages: It could actually result in a relaxed state that enhances your degree of calmness and doubtlessly even focus—each of which may support exercise. One study discovered that individuals believed they might carry out higher when stretching was included of their warm-up, and we all know that considering positively and confidently could be half the battle!

“I’ve discovered that for people who have already got vary of movement issues—whether or not it’s as a consequence of basic inflexibility or some bodily limitation—static stretching could be useful as a part of the warm-up to provide them a psychological increase and ease them into actions,” says Dr. Kam.

All in all, it seems that static stretching earlier than exercise just isn’t the bugaboo it’s been deemed to be in recent times. So don’t skip it—simply don’t go overboard.

Able to loosen up? Observe this stretch collection earlier than your subsequent exercise: