Stretching

[richard.deuchrass@lincoln.ac.nz]

Hi Ash & Damian

I have read that the ideal time to stretch is 4-6 hours after training and not immediately before or after training. As this significantly reduces strength and interfers with the adaptational and recovery processes.

What are your thoughts?
Have you read any research to support this statement?

[ashley]

Hi there have not read that paper but there is enough well researched infromation out there on static stretching immediately prior to speed, strength and power performance to basically advise all coaches to steer clear of this modality as part of the warm up and to stick to dynamic activities, personally I advise our guys to stretch at the end of the day, cheers, ash

[damian]

What may be considered optimal and what is actually practical are too different things. I don’t mind players stretching at the end of a session. Better than waiting till they are on their own when they won’t do it! Some players even like to stretch before training and i am yet to see it interfere with speed, power or strength. It would depend on many factors such as length of time stretch is held, tightness from other sessions in the week, potentiation from the warm up even if power was dampened etc.

Cheers

Damian

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