Research on the Benefits of Stretching

Why should you stretch? Stretching routines are a standard part of most exercise classes or coaching sessions. Should you stretch before, during, or after a walking workout or other cardio exercises?

Research on Stretching Disputes Injury Prevention or Reducing Muscle Soreness

You will hear three main reasons given to stretch during an exercise warm-up and to stretch during your cool down. The first is that stretching will help prevent injury. The second is that it will reduce muscle soreness after your workout. The third is that it can improve your range of motion and therefore help your performance.

But what coaches have taught for decades hasn't been proven by research.

For many years, systematic reviews of the best studies say you can't reduce injury or decrease muscle soreness by stretching.

Static Stretching for Flexibility and Range of Motion

Why, then, should you stretch? Flexibility is often a goal in and of itself. Being able to take a joint through its full range of motion gives us more freedom of movement. In addition, stretching to relax tight muscles feels good and balances the body. Fitness activities such as yoga and stretching concentrate on flexibility.

Improving your flexibility and range of motion with a regular static stretching routine may help you be able to do things you couldn't do before. Static stretching is slowly elongating the muscle through its full range of motion, then holding it at a position where it is at full extension (but without pain). The stretch is held for 15 to 30 seconds.

How often should you stretch?

You may find it convenient to do it with your other workouts, or you can do it separately.

A specific type of static stretching, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching, was developed for injury rehabilitation and is now being used by athletes. It is done after exercise.

Stretching for Walkers

You need to ask yourself whether you would find the time to stretch or do flexibility exercises if you didn't include them as part of your usual exercise workouts. You can use this stretching routine for walkers to make it part of your walking workouts.

Always Warm-up Before Stretching

It is recommended that you warm up with an activity that exercises the muscles to be stretched for 5 to 10 minutes before stretching. Walking at an easy pace is a proper warm-up.

Stretching After Exercise

Stretching after exercise can help to relax and balance the tension on muscles that have just been exercised. Traditionally this was done after a cool-down period. Or, you may wish to do the stretching as its own activity separate from your cardio or strength exercise workouts.