Kurt Bray
From: Mike Prizy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: Mike Prizy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Track List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: t-and-f: stretching and injury report Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2004 00:21:00 -0600
" ... in most cases researchers found little-to-no relationship between stretching and injuries or
postexercise pain."
American College of Sports Medicine
www.acsm.org
Press release
March 3, 2004
VARIETY OF PREPARTICIPATION ACTIVITIES, NOT JUST STRETCHING, RECOMMENDED TO PREVENT INJURIES IN
SPORTS
Research indicates stretching alone before and after exercise is not enough to prevent injury
INDIANAPOLIS ? Preparation for sports or exercise should involve a variety of activities and should
not be limited to stretching alone, according to a report published in the March 2004 issue of
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise®, the official scientific journal of the American College of
Sports Medicine(ACSM). Researchers examined decades of scientific evidence and caution that
stretching alone may not be enough to prevent injuries.
“The use of stretching primarily as a way to prevent sports injury has been based on intuition and
observation rather than scientific evidence,” said lead researcher Stephen B. Thacker, M.D. “The
best advice is to include a combination of warm-up, strength training, plyometrics and balance
exercises to lessen injury risks.”
The research team reviewed more than 350 scientific studies and articles that examined the
relationship between stretching and injuries over the past four decades. While the evidence does
show that stretching is important in increasing muscle and joint flexibility, in most cases
researchers found little-to-no relationship between stretching and injuries or postexercise pain.
“Most injuries occur during muscle contractions within the normal range of joint motion anyway,”
said Thacker, “so it’s unclear how increasing the range of motion through stretching would decrease
injury risk.” In addition, Thacker and his team point to some evidence that stretching just prior
to an athletic event may actually compromise performance in elite athletes.
“We are not suggesting that athletes discontinue flexibility training and stretching altogether,”
Thacker continued, “but that athletes, coaches, trainers and others look critically at
preparticipation and training routines to ensure they include all the activities which, when
combined, can enhance safety and performance. This might include activities such as proper warm-up
or strength, plyometric and balance training.”
The research team concludes that, while there is currently in sufficient evidence to endorse or
discontinue routine stretching to prevent injury, future research should be performed to examine the
role of stretching in injury prevention for both recreational and competitive athletes. Studies are
needed to determine the optimal timing (pre- or postexercise) and any optimal levels of flexibility
of specific muscle groups for each sport or activity.
The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science
organization in the world. More than 20,000 International, National, and Regional members are
dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical
applications of exercise science and sports medicine.
-30-
NOTE: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise® is the official journal of the American College of
Sports Medicine, and is available from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins at 1-800-638-6423.
Visit ACSM online at www.acsm.org.
The conclusions outlined in this news release are those of the researchers only, and should not be
construed as an official statement of the American College of Sports Medicine.
_________________________________________________________________
Learn how to help protect your privacy and prevent fraud online at Tech Hacks & Scams. http://special.msn.com/msnbc/techsafety.armx
