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Stretch, strength, core... do you? :-)

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becca7 Aug 2017 7:14am, 11 Aug 2017 7,339 posts	Quote Pin becca7 Yes, it's best not to static stretch before exercise, especially calves. Dynamic stretching such as this is OK though. kinetic-revolution.com
Autumnleaves Aug 2017 8:33am, 11 Aug 2017 10,970 posts	Quote Pin Autumnleaves None of my strength training involves weights except very occasionally if I feel I've neglected my arms. Pilates has been wonderful for my back - life changing really.
HappyG(rrr) Aug 2017 11:36am, 14 Aug 2017 27,130 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) Made it to gym on Friday just for 40 mins stretch, foam roller, core and a couple of wee upperbody things. Definitely helps, esp foam roller and stretch. Then a soak in Jacuzzi and sauna. Lovely too. No idea if it helps but feels nice! G
AndrewS Aug 2017 1:05pm, 14 Aug 2017 622 posts	Quote Pin AndrewS Happy- my view is if it feels nice then it helps
Julii Aug 2017 6:34pm, 20 Aug 2017 116 posts	Quote Pin Julii Ahh... this is interesting. Looking at the scientific literature. So I'm reading a few things. A "static stretch" lasts 15-30 seconds. It may be uncomfortable but not painful. No stretching is supposed to be done with "cold" muscles but no one has defined cold. The current fad is to say do "Dynamic stretches" but only AFTER warming up. not sure how one is supposed to warm up or how warmed up is adequate, that seems to be quite vague. And static stretches after exercise are fine (15-30 second rule). Some videos of dynamic stretches look ok to me, but I still feel no need. Therefore, I do not do static or dynamic stretches. I hold for < 15 seconds and I can't be arsed to do "dynamic". I belong in some other never-never land of stretches that work perfectly well for me.
becca7 Aug 2017 2:40pm, 22 Aug 2017 7,365 posts	Quote Pin becca7 I'd never heard of doing dynamic stretching after a warm up. The sort of exercises that dynamic type of stretching involves are the sort of thing that tends to be done in a warm up. I think that the benefits of stretching do vary from one individual to another. Most who are doing high volume training would benefit from stretching but I think that this does not apply so much for older folks and those with hypermobility. Tired yesterday after two long runs at the weekend and no time so no gym but back to it today for 5km rowing and upper body weights.
HappyG(rrr) Aug 2017 4:31pm, 22 Aug 2017 27,221 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) Very glad to foam roller last night, after half marathon on Sunday. Was painful, but I feel it helps. I also did a very short easy recovery run at lunch time yesterday, bodypump in the evening, as well as my foam roller (like a warm up) and leg and hip stretches. Def felt better after than before! There is def something about mileage / total training effort and the need to stretch. Becca, are you saying that older people need to stretch less or more? As I get older I feel like I need to do more stretch and core work. It could just be the wisdom of age (and being more wary of injury - both because it takes longer to recover now I'm older, but also because I am more dependent on my running as I get older!) G
Autumnleaves Aug 2017 4:33pm, 22 Aug 2017 11,034 posts	Quote Pin Autumnleaves I find I have do some stretching before I even get out of bed - my calves and achilles are quite tight in the mornings!
becca7 Aug 2017 4:59pm, 22 Aug 2017 7,366 posts	Quote Pin becca7 I have heard some older people say that they find stretching to be counter productive. Older than you HappyG. But, yes, in general the maintenance stuff like stretching, foam rollering etc does tend to be more important as we age. I think people with inactive jobs also need to stretch quite often, even if its just the languid stretching that cats do. Especially if they run marathons.
Brig Aug 2017 9:26pm, 22 Aug 2017 118 posts	Quote Pin Brig Now I have my release, stretch, activate programme i seem to be doing a lot better