Dynamic Stretching

This article reminded me about dynamic stretching. I had seen a little bit of this 6 or so years ago when my brother, a lacrosse player, was involved in a study of the effect of dynamic stretching on the performance of athletes muscles during game situations. He was doing the crazy things that you see in the videos on the field. From the article:

"If you’re like most of us, you were taught the importance of warm-up exercises back in grade school, and you’ve likely continued with pretty much the same routine ever since. Science, however, has moved on. Researchers now believe that some of the more entrenched elements of many athletes’ warm-up regimens are not only a waste of time but actually bad for you. The old presumption that holding a stretch for 20 to 30 seconds — known as static stretching — primes muscles for a workout is dead wrong. It actually weakens them."

Looking at the movement of dynamic stretching, it looks kinda dangerous, but when done in a controlled manner, it really helps. I have been trying this out myself during the past week since the article, and man, it really works. I feel stronger on my bike and my stamina is up. Here is the basic theory behind it:

"Stretching muscles while moving, ... a technique known as dynamic stretching or dynamic warm-ups, increases power, flexibility and range of motion. Muscles in motion don’t experience that insidious inhibitory response. They instead get what McHugh calls 'an excitatory message' to perform."

Now, I still like to static stretching after my exercise in order to lengthen the shortened muscles, but the dynamic stretching is here to stay for my pre-workout routines.

Check out this video showing some of dynamic stretching movements.

posted by: Michael G. Pingicer, M.S., L.Ac.