There has been a lot of discussion here about how to stretch property. The Speedo tip of the week at usa swimming sets the record straight. Short answer: warm up your muscles before swimming but do not do traditional "static stretches" until after swimming.
www.usaswimming.org/.../ViewMiscArticle.aspx
Former Member
Glad to read this tip.....I've been stretching AFTER working out for years and very rarely when I don't have time, I DO feel sore the next day. As for stretching before swim practice......my eyes don't open until I jump into the water at 5:30am.....let alone try to stretch. I just start out swimming slowly and work up to speed bit by bit.
Glad to read this tip.....I've been stretching AFTER working out for years and very rarely when I don't have time, I DO feel sore the next day. As for stretching before swim practice......my eyes don't open until I jump into the water at 5:30am.....let alone try to stretch. I just start out swimming slowly and work up to speed bit by bit.
That's what they tell you to do, but you feel sore the next day?
Never stretch before for sure. I never stretch after either just a nice cool down swim.
How many times have I said not to stretch before swimming. Now someone believes me????
As long as I stretch out properly AFTER a workout, I rarely feel sore the next day. Although a hard set of sprints is tough sometimes to recover fully from....but after spin classes and other cardio stuff, stretching the legs for 10-15 minutes really, really helps prevent being sore the next day.
After swim practice, I try to really stretch out the back, hamstrings and calves......and I feel pretty good the next day.
