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Advice Pool - The Truth About Stretching
A three year old study about stretching is being cited in many articles today, and the conclusions reached by some writers may be harmful to the muscle, ligaments and joints of your athletes. Is stretching before practice harmful? Stretching before athletic training and general fitness improvement exercise is being made out to be a time-waster, not needed, and even harmful. This is not true. In fact, there's a recent study that evaluates all the research on stretching, and the study concludes: Due to the According to USFDA, a combination product is one composed of any combination of a drug and device; biological product and device; drug and biological product paucity (small number), heterogeneity (dissimilar study subjects) and poor quality of the available studies no definitive conclusions can be drawn as to the value of stretching for reducing the risk of exercise-related injury (The efficacy of stretching for prevention of exercise-related injury: a systematic review of the literature, 2003, Weldon). Essentially, the researchers are saying that there are not enough quality studies to draw conclusions about this issue. Study in question The study that is gen ; or drug, device, and biological product and fixed dose combination would include two or more combinations of drug. Examples of combination products may in rating all the hoopla was performed by the Kapooka Health Centre, New South Wales, Australia on 1,538 army recruits. It's a creditable study designed to show the occurrence lower limb injury on a group of young army recruits. Despite what you may have heard about stretching before training, this is what the researchers actually reported: A typical muscle stretching protocol performed during pre-exercise warm-ups does not produce clinically meaningful reductions in risk of exercise-related injury in army rec lude drug-coated devices, drugs packaged with delivery devices in medical kits, and drugs and devices packaged separately but intended to be used together. ruits. Fitness may be an important, modifiable risk factor (A randomized trial of preexercise stretching for prevention of lower-limb injury, 2000, Pope). The statement, "Fitness may be an important, modifiable risk factor" is very important. It simply means that age, weight, and conditioning of the study subjects may be an important factor in preventing or facilitating the injuries experienced in this study. Three years after the Kapooka study, another study involving military recruits was conducted and t here is enormous increase in the number of combination products entering the market in the recent years. Combination products have proven advantages but fixe e researchers in this study show that pre-training static stretching can PREVENT injury involving muscle but not joint or bone injury. The researchers report, “Static stretching decreased the incidence of muscle-related injuries but did not prevent bone or joint injuries,” (Effect of static stretching on prevention of injuries for military recruits, 2003, Amako). Appropriate conclusions Based on the way some have written about this study, it's okay to run a 100 meter sprint full speed without stretching be d dose combinations are still in the process of convincing regulatory authority on their advantages over the single ingredient formulations. Combination pro orehand. Now, this may be possible for a small number of lean, young army recruits. However, does anyone believe that a powerful, muscled-up athlete or a middle-aged and older adult can go out and run a sprint - cold with no warm-up – without increased risk of injury? Don't think so... Use Common Sense ...and the full body of research Think about it; if an out-of-shape, untrained young army recruit performs high-intensity exercise, he may get injured, pre-stretched or not. And this is why researchers eval ucts have become life saving products for the pharmaceutical companies who doesn’t have many innovative molecules in their product pipeline and have been inc uating all the research on stretching conclude, "No definitive conclusions can be drawn..." In short, there needs to be a body of research based on age, weight, conditioning, and the study needs to be performed functionally for the specific sport and type of exercise before life-changing conclusions are drawn. The truth about stretching New research shows that stretching can aid in the prevention of injury of stress factures that plague distance runners. Researchers conclude, Prevention of stress fractur easingly used in the product life cycle management. Even the companies having product patents are trying to extend their product life cycle through the combi s is most effectively accomplished by increasing the level of exercise slowly, adequately warming up and stretching before exercise, and using cushioned insoles and appropriate footwear” (Common stress fractures, 2003, Sanderlin). Stretching offers many benefits. Researchers show that prolonged stretching (in the form of yoga) with moderate aerobic exercise and diet control will reduce cholesterol and significantly reverse hardening of the arteries (20 percent regression) in adults with proven coronary athe nation products and maximize the revenues. But the companies involved in this practice are overlooking that they are burdening the patients both economically osclerotic disease. After one year in a yoga program, participants lost weight, reduced cholesterol, and improved their exercise capacity, (Retardation of coronary atherosclerosis with yoga lifestyle intervention, 2000, Manchanda). Stretching offers many benefits, but there is an issue about the type of stretching and the timing of stretching before athletic competitions. Use dynamic stretching before games and key practice sessions There are two main types of stretching, static (holding a stretching exe and physically. They need to rightly judge the benefits of the combination products and they have to even look at the risks involved when combining the produ rcise in one position without movement) and dynamic stretching, which means moving while stretching (arm swings, knee rotations, neck circles). Researchers show that athletes should not perform prolonged static stretching before the big game or a key practice session because this slows muscle activation for around an hour afterwards, (Reduced strength after passive stretch of the human plantar flexors, 2000, Fowles). Using dynamic stretching is a wise pre-competition strategy. Static stretching builds flex ts. Some of the combination products were well accepted by physicians while others suffered. Companies involved in development of combination products are fi bility and should be performed regularly, just not immediately before a big game or a key practice session. Warming up prior to a high-intensity, ballistic, athletic event is an absolute rule - never to be broken, and stretching can be combined (multi-tasked) as part of the warm-up. The goal of the warm-up is to get the blood flowing and raise body temperature (one degree) prior to athletic competitions and high-intensity training. It’s desirable to have the athlete’s muscle, ligaments, and joints experienc ding difficulty in defining their combination products and facing various challenges from selecting a combination to marketing it. Following aspects would a the functional range of motion required of the sport during the warm-up. Do static stretching with 30-second stretch-holds away from practice Gains in flexibility are dependent on the “duration” of stretch-hold position, and researchers show the best “stretch-hold position” (for time-spent) to increase flexibility is 30 seconds (The effect of time on static stretch on the flexibility of the hamstring muscles, 1994, Bandy). "Best" means optimal results for time-spent. You can get positive results with 2 dd to the challenges in developing combination products: Which markets to tap where the combination products can do fairly well? Which combination prod minute stretch-holds, but 30 seconds yields equal results. This type of stretching is positive for athletes and adults of all ages. Researchers show in one study that longer hold stretching positions are of great benefit for adults over age 65, Longer hold times during stretching of the hamstring muscles resulted in a greater rate of gains in range of motion (ROM) and a more sustained increase in ROM in elderly subjects (The effect of duration of stretching of the hamstring muscle group for increasing rang cts are meaningful and rational? Which therapeutic categories to select? Which Combinations can address unmet needs of the patients? Do combin of motion in people aged 65 years or older, 2001, Feland). Adults ages 21 to 45 with tight hamstrings also get the best results from static stretching with 30-second stretch-hold positions. Researchers report that static stretching is two times more effective than dynamic range of motion (DROM) for this group of non-competitive athletes. Researchers report, The results of this study suggest that, although both static stretch and DROM (dynamic stretching) will increase hamstring flexibility, a 30-second st tions increase the patient compliance? What would be the developing cost? How to tackle the risks encountered during combination product developmen tic stretch was more effective than the newer technique, DROM, for enhancing flexibility (The effect of static stretch and dynamic range of motion training on the flexibility of the hamstring muscles, 2001, Bandy). Keep in mind there are important lessons in these studies, but the studies apply to a specific age group (over 65, and ages 21 – 45,) and a specific physical condition (tight hamstrings). If we apply the results of a study with these variables to young athletes, we may be wrong. While it’s reaso t? As combination products don't fit into the traditional categories of drugs, medical devices, or biological products, the USFDA is in the process of devel nable to conclude (as I have for training purposes) that static stretching away from practice is an effective strategic for athletes with tight hamstrings, this study doesn’t specifically prove that point. It’s clearly a mistake to take the findings of one study and create an absolute fact. Look at the whole body of research about a topic before making a life-changing training decision. The take home about stretching 1. Use dynamic stretching and static stretching at the correct times in the training plan. ping new procedures for reviewing their safety, efficacy and quality. Professional from academic institutions, pharmaceutical industries, health care indust 2. Dynamic stretching (arm swings, hip rotations, knee rotations) will aid in the pre-competition, pre-practice warm-up process by increasing flexion in the joints and increasing body temperature. This method is preferred before athletic competition. 3. Static stretching can be used as part of a warm-up for training. However, static stretching will slightly slow down athletes for an hour afterwards so examine training goals. Early in the season, static stretching before practice may be a wise strategy. Th y and representatives from various regulatory agencies are working out to design the regulatory requirements for manufacture and sale of combination products best way to improve overall flexibility is static stretching with 30-second stretch-holds performed away from events requiring peak performance. Personally, I recommend to athletes attending my Speed Camp to use a 10-minute static stretching routine targeting hamstrings, Achilles, hip flexors and quads four days a week. ****************************************************************** Phil Campbell. M.S., M.A., FACHE is the author of Ready, Set, Go! Synergy Fitness www.readysetgofitness.com ********** . As there is an increasing trend of the combination products companies manufacturing such products should be able to tackle the problems involved in the de ******************************************************** National Institutes of Health research cited: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12909434&dopt=Abstract http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14596439 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10694106&dopt=Abstract http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11273502&dopt=Abstra elopment. They need to be wiser in analyzing the market trends and the regulatory requirements. Companies that provide selfless information through particip t http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10956367&dopt=Abstract http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8066111&dopt=Abstract http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12834132 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11319936 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=954971 tion in industry events and feedback to regulatory authorities would be able to face the challenges and will be successful in developing combination products
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