October 16, 2007
THINK THE FOUNDERS LIMBERED UP?:
Stretching before you exercise may be 'a waste of time (DAVID DERBYSHIRE, 17th October 2007, Daily Mail)
The elaborate limbering up routines favoured by many athletes and gym-goers do little to prevent muscle aches and stiffness, researchers found.Stretching muscles after exercise may be equally pointless, they say.
The findings, published today in a respected medical journal, are likely to prove fiercely contentious as fitness experts have long advised that stretching is vital to increase flexibility, improve performance and reduce the risk of injury.
It's always humbling to read a biography or journal of some 18th/19th century figure who'd routinely go out and walk 10 or twenty miles in a day. Somehow they managed without whining about their hammies.... Posted by Orrin Judd at October 16, 2007 7:23 PM
You know, Reagan was known for chopping brush at his beloved Rancho del Cielo all throughout his presidency. Did we ever hear of him blowing out any of his limbs?
Posted by: Brad S at October 16, 2007 9:21 PMDo you agree? Vote at: www.votivation.com/opinion_stretching_before_exercise_is_a_waste_of_time
Posted by: Dobbo at October 17, 2007 6:12 AMSadly, this is merely another one of the studies that some illuminati (or idiot) puts out there to see just how dumb the people have become.
Common sense demamds that one is better off limber rather than not. One is better off in shape rather than fat, and one is better off being able to memorize the multiplication table rather than needing a calculator.
The "study" is garbage, as are about 70% of most "studies." But they do offer a majority of the population balms for their shortcomings.
Posted by: Bruno at October 17, 2007 7:52 AM10,000 years of people undertaking massive physical labor without limbering up and without whining about muscle pulls makes common sense side with the facts.
Posted by: oj at October 17, 2007 10:13 AM...without whining about muscle pulls...
You don't know how much whining they did. It could have been quite a lot.
Posted by: Brandon at October 17, 2007 10:44 AMYet they kept walking. That's the lesson.
Posted by: oj at October 17, 2007 12:02 PMOccasional stretching can be astonishingly effective in curing back ailments.
If you have the kind of problem that a visit to a chiropractor will alleviate, get Bob Anderson's book and just do the "In the morning" and "Before bed" recommendations.
Chiropractors don't cure anything--they block off pain so you don't realize the underlying condition persists and worsens.
Posted by: oj at October 17, 2007 5:42 PM