yes! Whenever I stretch my calves before I run I always end up having to drop out as they have cramped up and I have strained them... now I don't stretch before I run...
I injured a calf muscle stretching against a lamp post before a 10K race. That was before I read the evidence in: the British Medical Journal which says that pre-exercise stretching doesn't help and may cause harm.
My anatomy teacher used to say think about your muscles as a stick of chewing gum. When cold and you try to stretch it then it will just snap, but warm it up and you can stretch much more easily and safely. Makes perfect sense to me, can't see the point of stretching cold muscles, goes against everything I ever learnt as a dancer, and consequently teach now.
Some of the research is quite valid. Although weakness does exist in most/all papers. But it shouldent be taken out of context? or at face value. Needs a few more good experimental, longer term studies that are controlled for issues of internal/external validity and bias in general. Anyhow, thought you were supposed to warm up for 5 mins min before stretching? if i dont warm up first i end in pain with tendons as tight as banjo strings? Good to question though, havent had time to check all the articals in the references though i admit.
walk, then jogg, and skip and side step and stuff untill the circulatory system is moving a bit, about 140 heart rate? it works for me, listen to your legs and stuff!
Comments
i guess i overreach when touching my toes?
That was before I read the evidence in:
the British Medical Journal
which says that pre-exercise stretching doesn't help and may cause harm.
Makes perfect sense to me, can't see the point of stretching cold muscles, goes against everything I ever learnt as a dancer, and consequently teach now.
Anyhow, thought you were supposed to warm up for 5 mins min before stretching? if i dont warm up first i end in pain with tendons as tight as banjo strings? Good to question though, havent had time to check all the articals in the references though i admit.