Anyway, Zero Drop has posted this list of
10 Reasons Why Runners Should Not Stretch
- Stretching is exercise for the muscles like sea water is hydration for the body. When you're desperate for relief, it feels so right but only makes things worse.
- All athletes, especially runners, are so passionate about stretching. They defend it like their political association, religion, or family. I think many of them may have pictures of their kids in their wallets doing all types of cool stretches that they show their coworkers every day at the water cooler.
- Runners will follow any trend they think will make them run faster. Whether it's a new supplement, pair of socks, pair or shoes, custom orthotics, or stretching. They're the first in line for the Kool-Aid.
- Stretching is a conditioned behaviour, not one we are innately born with. I see my kids run, jump, climb, throw things, and carry objects of all sizes. They move well, and efficiently. I've never seen them stretch. Their developing nervous systems know better.
- The day I see my dog holding a stretch is the day I'll start stretching too.
- Flexibility is a reflection of overall health and fitness. Stretching does absolutely nothing for health or fitness. It's not exercise. It's not a warm-up or a cool-down. And it definitely doesn't substitute for restful sleep or a wholesome diet.
- Yoga is not stretching. Stretching is not yoga. Enough of that claim.
- Make sure you stretch if you want to weaken muscles, promote injuries, decrease performance, delay tissue healing, and have absolutely way too much free time.
- Stretching reduces injuries and improves endurance performance just like certain shoes will make you run or jump faster. Neither claim is true.
- I enjoy watching runners stretch. They must stretch because they think they will run faster. I bet they believe in Sasquatch too.
Sock Doc's full article STOP STRETCHING is definitely worth reading
Stretching may increase your flexibility, but you will most likely be weaker and the results are often short-lived. Saying that stretching reduces injuries or improves endurance performance, (the two main reasons given for stretching), is like saying certain shoes will make you run or jump faster. Many continue to make both these claims, yet neither has ever been proven, and many still buy the shoes and stretch with them on. Stretching is not exercise and not a warm-up before a run or any activity. Aerobic activity is the best warm-up as it increases flexibility in a safe way while improving oxygen utilization, lung capacity, and fat burning.
So balance your muscles and your entire body by balancing your life with proper exercise, diet, and other lifestyle factors. Stop drinking that Kool-Aid propaganda and just say “No!” to stretching!
Comments
Ins aerobics) and a good stretch routine after heavy strength training.
And two decades ago, before I had the chronic issues, I played football. We had an excellent trainer who made sure to warm us up and cool us down, always including stretching. That certainly increased our flexibility, something I also noticed while throwing javelin for track and field. My range of motion increased and flexibility improved performance. Whenever I trained on my own and skipped stretching I pulled a muscles or pinched a nerve at least a quarter of the time.
Sorry to hear of your crohns. Have you looked at Robb wolfs approach to diet. He has had good rests on treating ibd with a paleo diet.
As to stretching there is obviously some hyperbole in this article. But I would point to the research I've gas here before or the sock doc article.
tissue quality counts a lot and proper stretching can really improve that. jmo
For example, many older people in the west cannot sit comfortably in the Burmese cross-legged pose (see here: http://www.mro.org/zmm/teachings/images/zazen/burmesefront.jpg), with or without a cushion under the rear. Nor can they squat (see here http://www.yogaflavoredlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/squat-malasana.jpg). Excessive loss of flexibility is a serious problem among the elderly. Surely not all of this loss of flexibility is caused by eating junk food.
The notion that yoga is not about stretching is only half true. Yoga is about putting the body through the full range of natural motion (plus building muscle strength and balance), and that is effectively stretching, though very gentle stretching. Same with Tai Chi (less emphasis on muscle strength than with yoga).
And with yoga - yes, but most people who do yoga don't have a clue what they're doing, and do moves they aren't ready for, so they're overstretching and causing problems.
Thanks for taking part in the comments and sharing your thoughts with us here. It is great to have you writing here
They definitely stretch. A lot.