I've been thinking about this a bit lately and whether stretching is good or bad for you, or an over / under rated tool to help recovery.
I played a lot of junior sport and it was always warm up and stretch and afterwards cool down and stretch. Prior to ever doing compound lifts, I had persistant sciatic nerve pain that referred down my left hamstring, behind the knee and in the calf. Over the years I was treated by chiros, osteos and relied on massage and the advice was always to stretch. For a large part of that time I did a number of different stretches for approximately 15 minutes each night. It definitely eased the pain when it was acute but never made it better or made the condition go away. As my back and legs have started to get stronger I've only had DOMS and nothing more serious.
Up until several weeks ago I was stretching to assist with DOMs but I reckon I get as much benefit from this as going for a 30 minute walk with my dogs in the morning before work. Then occasionally I've heard or read about stretching before exercise potentially causing injury or muscle strain.
Does anyone have anymore experience than this or an opinion as to whether its good, bad or indifferent?
Cheers,
Jeff.
I played a lot of junior sport and it was always warm up and stretch and afterwards cool down and stretch. Prior to ever doing compound lifts, I had persistant sciatic nerve pain that referred down my left hamstring, behind the knee and in the calf. Over the years I was treated by chiros, osteos and relied on massage and the advice was always to stretch. For a large part of that time I did a number of different stretches for approximately 15 minutes each night. It definitely eased the pain when it was acute but never made it better or made the condition go away. As my back and legs have started to get stronger I've only had DOMS and nothing more serious.
Up until several weeks ago I was stretching to assist with DOMs but I reckon I get as much benefit from this as going for a 30 minute walk with my dogs in the morning before work. Then occasionally I've heard or read about stretching before exercise potentially causing injury or muscle strain.
Does anyone have anymore experience than this or an opinion as to whether its good, bad or indifferent?
Cheers,
Jeff.
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