I do several stretches pointed out as no-nos in that article. I have a little routine that I always do, much of which I borrowed from Janet Evans' book. But after reading that I'm thinking I might just quit stretching altogether.
:confused:
Unless I miss some pages, this article is very incomplete as:
- it doesn't provide with any valid reason for condemning typical swimmer stretching exercises
But it does. It says clearly (as does NKMD) that the typical swimmer stretches target cartilage and ligaments ("static stabilizers"), and that flexibility in those structures is more likely to cause injury than to prevent it. There are a few stretches that one can do to loosen the muscles that hold the shoulder together (the "dynamic stabilizers"), although shoulder-injury treatment and prevention focuses a lot more on strengthening those dynamic stabilizers than on stretching them.
#1,any stretch that involves pulling on my head to stretch my neck makes me nervouse as heck. Seems like it's too easy to overdo it/misuse it.
Try it. You will love it. You are in total control of how hard you pull to stretch. Also, you can vary the muscles you target with that type of stretch by looking either ahead or down, and by keeping the arm on the stretching side either down or at shoulder height. This type of stretch is excellent for swimmers, and especially for swimmers with desk jobs.
Unless I miss some pages, this article is very incomplete as:
- it doesn't provide with any valid reason for condemning typical swimmer stretching exercises
But it does. It says clearly (as does NKMD) that the typical swimmer stretches target cartilage and ligaments ("static stabilizers"), and that flexibility in those structures is more likely to cause injury than to prevent it. There are a few stretches that one can do to loosen the muscles that hold the shoulder together (the "dynamic stabilizers"), although shoulder-injury treatment and prevention focuses a lot more on strengthening those dynamic stabilizers than on stretching them.
#1,any stretch that involves pulling on my head to stretch my neck makes me nervouse as heck. Seems like it's too easy to overdo it/misuse it.
Try it. You will love it. You are in total control of how hard you pull to stretch. Also, you can vary the muscles you target with that type of stretch by looking either ahead or down, and by keeping the arm on the stretching side either down or at shoulder height. This type of stretch is excellent for swimmers, and especially for swimmers with desk jobs.
