I would be interested to know just how much stretching and other exercise people do before they start their training sessions.:D
Parents
Former Member
My understanding of recent studies was that stretching before swimming is no longer recommended. This, as I understand it, is for several reasons:
1) the risks associated with stretching cold muscles;
2) stretching reduces the muscle's ability to contract;
3) although athletes stretch to reduce potential injuries, the injuries don't result from overstretching the muscle through the range that stretching improves.
I had understood that the new trend was to lengthen the warm up instead and either do the stretching after swimming, or at some other time entirely, or not at all.
Any comments?
My understanding of recent studies was that stretching before swimming is no longer recommended. This, as I understand it, is for several reasons:
1) the risks associated with stretching cold muscles;
2) stretching reduces the muscle's ability to contract;
3) although athletes stretch to reduce potential injuries, the injuries don't result from overstretching the muscle through the range that stretching improves.
I had understood that the new trend was to lengthen the warm up instead and either do the stretching after swimming, or at some other time entirely, or not at all.
Any comments?
