Stretching

A new report has found that pre-workout stretching can increase the risk of injury and can reduce muscle strength. Stretching before exercise may not be as beneficial as once believed.

A new study has demonstrated that short-duration stretching before exercise temporarily improves joint range of motion (ROM) and does not appear to alter muscle strength.

Any way to improve performance is a good one! Researchers at Indiana State University wanted to determine how using static stretching (stretch and hold) and motor imagery (visualisation) together would effect aerobic performance in cyclists.

Researchers determine how stretching one muscle has effects on several factors once believed to be unrelated, including contralateral implications for flexibility and strength.

Stretching is often a staple in one's exercise routine. So how necessary is stretching?