Too Stretch or not to stretch?

That is the question.   The answer is YES!!  A study run by the BYU-Hawaii department of exercise gave some good research on why and how.   Take home messages were that participants who were part of the group performing regular stretches found themselves showed gains in strength, power, flexibility and endurance.  In other words, they could run faster,  run longer,  lift more and reach farther.  So stretching is good.  Big deal.  Well it is if you look at what they did.  The group was made of inactive people or only recreationally active people who all they changed about there life style was they stretched 3 times a week for 40 minutes.  They didn't run 5ks everyday or lift tons of weight.  They simple performed a series of stretches with 15 sec holds 3 times each side for each stretch (time-frames on stretch holds will be a topic for another day).  The other big thing out of this article is the argument for regular stretching being better than activity associated stretching.  The details of the study can be found below.


KOKKONEN,  J.,  A. G. NELSON,  C.  ELDREDGE,  and  J.  B. WINCHESTER.  Chronic  Static  Stretching  Improves  Exercise Performance.  Med. Sci. Sports Exerc.,  Vol.  39,  No.  10,  pp.  1825-1831,  2007

http://www.alexandrelevangelista.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/efeitos-do-alongamento-passivo-em-forca-potencia-e-flexibilidade.pdf