(Reuters Health) – It’s a common and persistent myth that static stretching improves running performance and decreases the risk of injuries, researchers say. Instead, an active warm-up can help with running performance, and progressive training can reduce injury risk, they write in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. While talking with these runners, he said, they often discuss myths and misunderstandings around running injuries and explain recommendations around stretching and warm-up activities. Some runners use static stretching to reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness after strenuous runs, but research doesn’t support this idea either. Importantly, the authors note, research shows that warm-ups improve running performance, but the evidence is still unclear about whether they reduce injuries.

Source: National Post November 28, 2019 16:18 UTC