These exercises are for after the workout or activity. Thanks Burlingtoncrosstraining.com for the photo
I am amazed we are still having this conversation..
Stretching is not the same thing as warming up. Confusing stretching with warming up is an all-too-common mistake, so don’t feel too bad if you are one of the thousands of coaches out there that just has to stick to 1979 rules of warm -up engagement. The athlete should spend a few minutes doing lighter-moderate intensity activity that mimics your upcoming workout warming up the core getting ready to work. That is a warm-up. It gives your body time to adjust to the higher demands of exercise so that your breathing rate, circulation and heart rate can all increase ,to supply your working muscles with the blood, nutrients and oxygen they need to keep things running smoothly. Warming up also helps lubricate your joints. Stretching does not serve the same purposes and therefore does not pass for a warm-up.This stretching activity should be done at the end of the work out.Stretching sedates the muscle it does not activate it.So at the end of a work out makes sense,Right?
Below is a brief over view of a 2008 study that concludes once again what we hear at clinics and seminars but many don’t want to listen to..
“Contrary to the prevailing idea that stretching enhances athletic performance”, a recent study by UNLV kinesiology researchers found that certain stretching may actually reduce performance by decreasing leg power.
The study, which appeared in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, investigated how two typical stretching techniques for the hamstrings and quadriceps muscles in the legs affected measures of strength and power in a group of male and female athletes.
Specifically, participants were asked to perform a vertical jump and seated knee flex on three occasions after a typical duration of basic static (holding) and ballistic (bouncing) stretches, or no stretching at all. While little or no difference was found in vertical jump and leg torque, power measures for the stretching groups were significantly reduced.
“Athletes typically include static stretching as a part of the warm-up, but the evidence is clear that this practice will decrease performance in sports that require explosive movements,” said UNLV kinesiology professor and study co-author Bill Holcomb, who directs the university’s Sports Injury Research Center. “Developing flexibility is important for reducing sports injury, but the time to stretch is after, not before, performance.”
Holcomb suggests that coaches limit stretch duration as a part of the warm up in most sports and refrain from pre-activity stretching altogether for sports that are reliant on maximum power. Instead, athletes should perform a whole-body warm-up activity followed by sport specific, or dynamic, stretching.
Power, calculated using a force-measuring device during the vertical jump testing, decreased between 2.4 and 3.4 percent after ballistic and static stretching. Vertical jump is commonly used in research as a predictor of power because the process of jumping requires a person to effectively generate force with their legs at rapid speed. Also, the hamstrings and quadriceps both function as major muscles used in jumping.
While the percentage of the power decrease may not warrant a change in warm up routine for recreational athletes, it is quite significant for competitive athletes participating in activities requiring maximum power, such as track and field and football, for example.
Participating in the study with Holcomb were UNLV Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition professors Mack Rubley and Mark Guadagnoli, and graduate kinesiology student Michelle Samuel. The study appeared in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research and can be found online at: http://www.nsca-jscr.org.
UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution of 28,000 students and 3,300 faculty and staff. Founded in 1957, the university offers more than 220 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs. UNLV is located on a 350-acre campus in dynamic Southern Nevada and is classified in the category of Research Universities (high research activity) by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. ”
Until Next Time..
I disagree with this study.
Strength and conditioning coach’s have little knowledge and training of yoga and yogic science involving breath and the power of static stretching pre workout.
One of the physiological purpose’s of static stretching prepare respiratory organs to take unhealthy pressure of cardiovascular system. As muscles of inhalation are strengthen, heartrates remain relatively low.With lower heartrates the psychological effects create slower brainwave activity(less fear).This allows the mind to move into”flow”, or states of being outside ego, or time/space limitation.
The person who takes the least amount of breaths per race probably wins, the person who takes the most breaths probably comes in last, it’s that simple people.
Stick with static stretching and control breathing,breathe as slowly as possible and learn the science breath retentions this leads to controlling of mind, all racing is mind of matter.
Go B Great
i dont know what kind of race you are talking about or who you are but i challenge you to race my 5 year old son for 400 meters and you only take one breath and he takes as many as he wants and he will surely beat you every time. I agree with you regarding controlled breathing but that is not the same as the minimum amount of breaths. Anaerobic vs. aerobic depends on the length of the race. It would be nice if racing on relied upon the mind over matter principle but it is purely mechanical in nature.