Stretching to do or not to do that is the question!!

Stretching is a subject that is very controversial. A new article about runners that just came out continues to question the value of stretching. USA Track and Field looked at 3000 runners to see if stretching made any effect on injury rates. These runners where split into two categories, those that did stretch and those that did not. No reference was made about if the stretching was before or after running or about the stretching technique. The overall injury rate was the same for both groups (16%). One finding that was significant was that if you normally stretch and then stopped stretching this rate of injury almost doubled. Thus,if you are used to a certain routine-stick with it!!
I believe stretching is most important once a muscle is completely warmed up ie. right at the end of the exercise. Holding a stretch as is done in Yoga, until the muscle stops resisting seems to have the greatest effect. People with plantar fascia problems seem to benefit from stretching both the calf and hamstrings.
Doing stretching will not hurt you. Doing it correctly has helped most all of my patients in my experience.