To stretch or not to stretch that is the big question every one has an opinion on.How about YOU?

[TrackMom]

The notion of completetly throwing out years of tried and tested protocol in athlete preparation is a little disconcerting to me. I understand the current arguments and rationale, but is there room for a healthy compromise...Can we do both? Is static really that bad for the athlete? Is dynamic really that good? Does it depend on the athlete? Or the coach administering the coaching and guidance?

[Stephanie Holloway]

We switched to dynamic a few year back and it has worked out well and no injuries. Jason likes how it keeps in tune with the natural flow of the muscle. He does static throughout the workout, between intervals etc. I think a big part of it may depend on the coach as you said in your question. If a coach who really isn't too experienced or educated in the area uses static and then allows the athlete's muscles to get cold, for example, then they are not using it appropriately. I think either one works, if used with proper technique and guidance. Jason uses a lot of the techniques in this video with Audriana:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13ZpOZdJaaQ

[Stephanie Holloway]

"He does static throughout the workout, between intervals etc" Correction...I was re-reading my post, I meant to say that he does dynmaic throughout the workout and between intervals.

[Mister_Voice]

So all that pre-football practice yoga torment that had migrated to the from the Land of Fruits and Nuts was what made me so slow? Man, I love excuses, .especially when it's way too late for me to go back and get things right.

But yeah, I work in show biz with some Olympic caliber athletes, orthopedic surgeons and athletic trainers from time to time, (hey, it's show biz, I'm not a licensed authority) and the consensus around here is dynamic stretches before for performance enhancement, ...and post-work-out stretching (static , I think?) for injury prevention . I hope this box won't eat my post I'll look it up...

OK, Kids, this is a good, http://www.elitesoccerconditioning.com/Stretching-Flexibility/Dynam...">one page evidence-based explanation that even I can understand.

Regardless of what technique you want to believe in, flexibility (enhanced range of motion of your movable parts) matters for both performance and injury prevention. Ignore the warning now, pay to hear the same spiel from a physical therapist tomorrow.

Senor Voz

[TrackMom]

Mister_Voice said:

So all that pre-football practice yoga torment that had migrated to the from the Land of Fruits and Nuts was what made me so slow? Man, I love excuses, .especially when it's way too late for me to go back and get things right.

But yeah, I work in show biz with some Olympic caliber athletes, orthopedic surgeons and athletic trainers from time to time, (hey, it's show biz, I'm not a licensed authority) and the consensus around here is dynamic stretches before for performance enhancement, ...and post-work-out stretching (static , I think?) for injury prevention . I hope this box won't eat my post I'll look it up...

OK, Kids, this is a good, http://www.elitesoccerconditioning.com/Stretching-Flexibility/Dynam...">one page evidence-based explanation that even I can understand.

Regardless of what technique you want to believe in, flexibility (enhanced range of motion of your movable parts) matters for both performance and injury prevention. Ignore the warning now, pay to hear the same spiel from a physical therapist tomorrow.

Senor Voz

Hey Mr.Voice...

That same link is at TrackMom.com under the post on warm -ups. I think the current school of thought supports the dynamic stretch. I hope that coaches remember that the post workout aspect of the stretch is very important and in our home we do a before bed time stretch daily that really has helped a ton with flexibity (mine and Lauren's) a little aches and pain.