Thoughts on this have changed a lot. Static stretching (leaning into a position and holding) have given way to dynamic warm ups. Ideally you want to warm the muscles up slowly so you run through small movements building in tempo. Things like walking and extending your step up to tiptoe, high knees, kicking your bum with your ankle etc… This prevents “cold” muscles from overstretching too fast.
Personally I still use some static stretches. Might be placebo affect but pre game doesn’t feel right without it
It doesn’t.
Or at least there is very little evidence to suggest it does. It’s really a holdover from what old basketball and football coaches had athletes doing 50 years ago. Some people with specific issues may benefit from specific stretches before specific activities. But there isn’t much evidence that general stretching routines, static or dynamic, reduce injury in training or competition.
Latest Answers