In a presentation to the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a researcher reported that stretching prior to running did not help to prevent running related injuries. Chalk it up to another bold step the medial community is taking in catching up with the fitness community. Doctors, puleeese…….

In a three-month randomized trial, self-reported injury rates that prevented running for more than three days were 16% both among the 600 participants who stretched before starting their regular runs and in the 798 who were told not to stretch.

Edward McDevitt, MD, a sports medicine specialist in Arnold, Md., said that that it’s hard to imagine that stretching wouldn’t be beneficial. “I don’t have to believe every study I read,” he joked. McDevitt, who called himself an advocate of stretching, said he couldn’t find fault with the new study’s methodology but nevertheless was reluctant to accept the results. But he said the findings suggested that more research is warranted.

I’m not a doctor, just a humble country trainer, but here’s how it works: if you want your body to be prepared for exercise, you must warm the body up and send it a message that you’re about to start exercising. Stretching is great for releasing tensions and allowing the free flow of blood, fluid and nutrients throughout the body. But if you are about to run, ya gotta get those muscles fired up to work. Period.

Here’s a video we shot a while back with a bunch of great pre-running exercises…………

And if you want a great read about running techniques including warm ups, check out Chi Running by Danny Dreyer. This is the perfect book if you are looking toward improving your running technique.


ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running

But you keep researching, doctors. We’re behind you 100%

Rock on!