Stretching Cold

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Description

King, I., 2000, Flexibility Specialization Series (DVD), disc 2, approx. 1 hr 30 mins in

Today we went in [to the stretch] cold. What do you think about the philosophy that you can't stretch cold?

It takes longer to get the range when you go in cold, but you can definitely do it, and there's time when you will need to do it. But if you do warm up your body temperature first, your starting position is at a higher level.

Schuler , L. & Cosgrove, A., 2006, New Rules

New Rule #15 – You don’t need to warm-up to stretch

In Chapter 5 I said that stretching isn’t a good warm –up.  Now I want to point out that you don’t have to go through a good warm-up if you want to stretch. Unless you wake up in the morning and try to put your foot behind your head – and why would you? – you don’t have to worry about hurting yourself.

Studies have shown that you get a greater range of motion when you stretch after warming up.  But that doesn’t mean you hurt yourself stretching if you don’t warm-up first.

If you feel like stretching, stretch.