Stretching-Seth Winstead

NW Fitness Magazine

Stretching

Seth Winstead, BS, RT(T)
Kinesiology & Sports Medicine concentration
So, you’re pretty sure you’ve got the whole ‘stretching’ thing down, right? Think again! You may be hindering your performance by stretching incorrectly. Pregame & Postgame stretching should be approached COMPLETELY different.

Research has demonstrated that, while beneficial for long-term flexibility, holding a static stretch (30 seconds or more) immediately weakens the muscle, rendering it less responsive for performance. Other studies have even shown that the risk of injury increases as static stretching is employed in the pregame setting.

To maximize performance for any sport, pregame stretching should be done in sets of small doses (5 X 5 second holds) after the body is warm. Dynamic warmups are a great way to warm and prepare the body before any activity. Static stretching DOES have its place in sports, but should only be done following the event. This will not only help your body to recover, but will also prepare it for the next time you hit the gym or have a game.

Seth Winstead, BS, RT(T)
Kinesiology & Sports Medicine concentration
Lead Radiation Therapist
University of Washington Medical Center
Department of Radiation Oncology