The Truth About Stretching 👉

Stretching is important to maintain healthy joints and develop the appropriate mobility for your favorite physical activities.

Today, we are debunking some common misconceptions about stretching.

Myth 1: STRETCHING BEFORE EXERCISE PREVENTS INJURIES

There is no evidence to back up this claim. Instead, focus on stretching consistently, not just before or after an exercise. Try dynamic stretching or moving while you stretch. These types of stretches not only keep muscles "conditioned" but can also increase range of motion and improve body awareness.

Myth 2: STRETCHES SHOULD BE HELD FOR 30 SECONDS

There is no exact amount of time that you should be holding your stretch. What matters is that you stretch properly. While stretching, you want to feel moderate discomfort, NOT pain.

Myth 3: YOU CAN'T STRETCH TOO MUCH

You certainly can stretch too much. If you’re overstretching, it is possible that you might be irritating your muscles, causing inflammation, or eventually, causing a reduction in proper muscle tension.

Myth 4: STRETCHING LENGTHENS YOUR MUSCLES

You actually increase your stretch tolerance not lengthen your muscle tissue. Take this example: Imagine the simple hamstring test. When you sit on the ground and reach for your toes the first time you may not be able to reach, but after each attempt to touch your toes, you get closer. This is because your tolerance of the stretch has improved—not because you have longer hamstrings.

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