Stretching Myths That Are Quietly Sabotaging Your Workouts
Stretching Myths That Are Quietly Sabotaging Your Workouts Stretching advice has barely changed in decades, even as the evidence behind it has moved on considerably. Most people are still following routines built on assumptions that research has since overturned — sometimes with the opposite effect of what was intended. Here's what's actually true, and what's quietly working against you. Myth 1: Static Stretching Before a Workout Prevents Injury This is probably the most widely repeated stretching advice there is, and it's also one of the most outdated. Static stretching — holding a stretch in place for an extended period — done before exercise has been shown in research to temporarily reduce muscle power and strength output immediately afterward. In other words, the stretch you're doing to "warm up" can actually leave your muscles less prepared for the effort that follows, not more. This doesn't mean stretching is bad — it means the timing and type ma...