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Stretching — long promoted as a way to prevent injury, to reduce soreness and to speed post-exercise recovery — may not fulfill its promise.
Really?
The Claim: Stretching Can Prevent Soreness and
Injury
By ANAHAD O'CONNOR
THE FACTS
Stretching - long promoted as a way to prevent
injury, to reduce soreness and to speed
post-exercise recovery - may not fulfill its
promise. Over the years, scientists have found
that stretching before or after a workout has
little effect on either risk of injury or what is
commonly known as delayed onset of muscle
soreness, the discomfort that comes a day or more
after challenging physical activity.
Numerous studies have reached this conclusion. One
of the most recent and extensive reports was
published in October in The Cochrane Database of
Systematic Reviews. The report reviewed 10
randomized studies, which over all looked at the
impact of stretching before and after exercise, in
repeated sessions and in intervals ranging from 40
seconds to 10 minutes. The authors concluded that
stretching had little or no effect on
post-exercise soreness.
Another systematic review, by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, was published in
the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and
Exercise in 2004. It looked at multiple studies
and found that stretching "was not significantly
associated with a reduction in total injuries,"
but also concluded that more research was needed.
For now, many experts say that what may work is a
quick warm-up, like low-impact aerobics or
walking. It also helps to ease into an activity by
starting off slow and then increasing speed,
intensity or weight (for lifting).
THE BOTTOM LINE
Research suggests that stretching does not affect
soreness or risk of injury during exercise.
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