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The Importance of Stretching.......

Thanks Marcus Fry for this.....Stretching –

A recent study showed that stretching prior to exercise does not help prevent injury. In fact  'in the wrong hands' it can in fact cause injury. If you want to know why, get a piece of blue tack and stretch it when it is cold, it will snap - your muscles and tendons are not dissimilar. Some people go straight into stretching or jog on the spot for two minutes and then stretch, either way, your muscles are not as warm as after exercise.

 For serious (read quality) athletes, in theory stretching prior to exercise could increase performance but I'm not sure any of us are at the level where that would matter.

Therefore you are better off starting a run with a gentle jog and gradually picking up the pace!!). This will warm your muscles/tendons gradually (not 'shocking' them with a stretch when cold). There are also health implications because this will allow your heart and lungs to 'get up to speed' before the stresses of your normal pace.

After a run slow down gradually (again protecting the heart) and then this is the time when you should do some serious stretching. It will lengthen the muscle fibres, improving the ability of the muscles to produce force next time you run.

Simon Speeding adds.......