MARIKA SBOROS: Turns out stretching may not be beneficial and flexibility can be a bad thing
Stretching is good for you. It keeps your body supple and flexible and you young at heart. It also reduces the risk of injury, right? Wrong, says Dr Phil Maffetone, a US specialist in human biology, physiotherapy, Chinese medicine and kinesiology — the study of the principles of mechanics and anatomy in relation to human movement. His mantra is that "everyone is an athlete". He works with professional and Olympic athletes, but also more ordinary mortals. In a recent article on his blog, Maffetone says that most athletes stretch out of habit rather than any scientific rationale. In other words, they do so "religiously". They believe that it is doing them good. Stretching is as ritualistic as "reading the new running shoe reviews", Maffetone says. It often starts with young athletes. Their coaches encourage them to stretch to reduce injuries, he says. They mean well but may not be on the right track. Opponents of stretching have based their criticism on two different perspectives, he ...
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