Does stretching before sports help or hurt?
To stretch or not to stretch: the role of stretching in injury prevention and performance
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Stretching before sports weakens muscle strength
Most people believe stretching 'loosens you up' and prepares you for action, but it actually causes acute impairment in strength—a counterintuitive result for a near-universal practice.
Practical Takeaways
Avoid long static stretches right before strength or power activities.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Stretching before sports weakens muscle strength
Most people believe stretching 'loosens you up' and prepares you for action, but it actually causes acute impairment in strength—a counterintuitive result for a near-universal practice.
Practical Takeaways
Avoid long static stretches right before strength or power activities.
Publication
Journal
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
Year
2009
Authors
M. McHugh, C. Cosgrave
Related Content
Claims (3)
Stretching right before sports or workouts might make your muscles weaker for a short time, especially when it comes to strength.
Stretching before you work out probably doesn't help prevent long-term injuries from repetitive motion, like runner's knee or tennis elbow.
Stretching before sports might help prevent muscle strains in athletes, but we’re not totally sure yet because the research isn’t clear or strong enough.