Comments on: Are Running Stretches Beneficial?

By: A Payne

A Payne — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:42:22 +0000

The idea behind the benefits of stretching is that when you stretch over an extended period of time, with increased flexibility acton and myosin will be further apart at rest, therefore meaning they should contract more forcefully when they do contract (ie. running) giving you a bit more power. However how much more power, if any, is hard to determine. Also, if you do have any scar tissue in your muscles stretching is thought to help break it up and realign acton and myosin. Who really knows though; I stretch briefly after I don’t know if it helps, but I don’t think it hurts.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:30:12 +0000

I have been running regularly for the last 15 years. I rarely stretch before or after a run. Luckily, I have not had any running related injuries.

I do try to stretch daily in the evening, but it’s not related to running. I realized a few years ago how completely unflexible I was, so I started stretching. I don’t actually think it’s helping or hurting my running, but I felt like an old man because I couldn’t touch my toes, so I started stretching.

By: George

George — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:30:09 +0000

I don’t stretch before or after running these days. When I was in high school and sporadically afterwards I did. I never noticed a difference one way or another (except that stretching before running mostly seemed like a timekiller to wait for the team members that were late for the start of the workout). I do warmup before speed sessions though which I do find valuable, but don’t stretch.

By: hendrik

hendrik — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:10:42 +0000

I’m too lazy and impatient to stretch. And I’m low on injuries.
When I started running long distance about 10 years ago, I read up a lot about it and recall reading that stretching before running is actually more likely to pull a mussle than help. The idea is that you only stretch after running a bit, but I never got into the habit of interrupting my run to stretch.

By: Average Joggler

Average Joggler — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:08:20 +0000

@Wes – It seems like this topic could yield to scientific inquiry as long as you phrase the question properly.

To ask, “is stretching beneficial?” is too vague a question. Of course, a solid case could be made that it has benefit. This isn’t a scientific question unless you define what is meant by “beneficial”.

So, questions like ‘Will stretching reduce injuries’ or ‘Does stretching improve your performance’ can be scientifically tested. And at the moment, the scientific evidence seems to say
1. No, stretching will not reduce injuries
2. No, stretching does not improve performance

By: Jason Tan

Jason Tan — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:30:34 +0000

I usually try to stretch a little after running, especially after long runs. I’m pretty sure it causes me to feel less sore the next day. But maybe it’s all in my head…

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:42:35 +0000

Stretching and vitamins are two things recommended by doctors with very little scientific information to back it up. Studies of professional athletes who stretch showed no reduction in injuries.

By: Wes

Wes — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:34:03 +0000

I do not stretch, although the author of Chi Running recommends loosening up the tendons, rather than the muscles before running. If anything, I think light stretching before running kind of warms up the muscles to the task at hand.

This topic is debated a lot, and it really is hard to prove one way or the other. There are no exact measurements to prove the theory one way or another.