| Author |
Message |
jams
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 8:23 am: |       |
Does anyone know what the current thoughts are on stretching to increase flexibility? Over the last couple of years I've seen conflicting articles on whether or not to have students stretching pre-activity (following a short aerobic warm-up), and/or post-activity...during the cool down, or only during the post-activity. What are you doing at your school with your students?Thanks for the information!
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Anna Other
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 8:42 am: | |
From personal experience I know that if I don't stretch for at least 20 secs after exercise I am stiff the next day. As an adolescent I barely remember doing stretches, let alone needing them. that difference is when I was younger, I never put two and two together. If I ran good race because I had limbered up well then I'd had a good day. If I ran poorly because my muscles were still tight or I had less flexibility than a competitor, I had a bad day. As PE specialist I believe we should be showing students how to develop positive patterns of behaviour for sport and exercise. Even if the students don't always do the stretches as effectively as we might like we are at least teaching them that warming-up and limbering up before exercise and cooling down and stretching out after exercise go together lkie study and good grades!
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Isobel Kleinman
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 8:42 am: | |
My physical therapist (I was recuperating from major knee surgery) had me stretch after I warmed up, which meant my doing 5 minutes of something aerobic first.
I like to use metaphors when I teach, so I liken the need to stretch a warm muscle to what happens when you try to stretch chewed bubble gum. When it is cold, it breaks. When it is warm, it stretches. This may help students visualize the need for warming up first and remember it as well.
Personally, I find stretching more valuable at the conclusion of a work-out, but then I am no kid and can recognize the need to stretch specific muscle groups - after I warmed up- when I am feeling tight.
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Megan Stevens
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 8:43 am: | |
I feel if children stretch a few minutes after the lesson they will benefit from it in the long run. I love the feeling after I have stretched. I feel more relaxed and the muscle tension is gone. As a student coach for the Kent State Gymnastics Team we have our gymnasts stretch after practice for a few minutes. Since we have been stretching after practice the girls flexibility has increased greatly. Flexibility is much easier to increase as a child than as an adult. Remember to save a few minutes for stretching. |
Bob Wright
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 01, 2005 - 10:34 am: | |
Check out a book called Relax Into Stretch. It is very interesting. The author says the goal is to teach your muscles to relax. A relaxed muscle will stretch. A tense muscle will not stretch. The muscle will stretch better if it is warm, so you should warm up before stretching. |
Nathan Baird
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 02, 2005 - 10:56 pm: | |
I've been doing a quick stretch after a 5 minute warm-up and then another lengthier one at the end of the class. It sounds like folks are saying that's the way to go? |
Marilyn Laidlaw
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 9:07 pm: | |
I heard of a very good activity to analogize warmed muscles to the small (long) tootsie rolls. Have students unwrap one of those 2" long small tootsie rolls and try to stretch it. It won't stretch. Re-wrap the tootsie roll and carry it around for 5 or 10 minutes in your hand or pocket (till it gets warm). Then unwrap it again and try to stretch it. It will slowly stretch with steady pulling. It demonstrates in a three-dimensional form how a muscle is much easier to stretch (and safer) when warmed up. |
Amy Rogers (Arogers)
New member
Username: Arogers
Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 4:21 pm: | |
I am a PE teacher at the middle schoo level and also working on my Masters in Kinesiology. Stretching is not necessary for improved performance or for reducing injury in physical activity. Current research is still conflicted in the effects on building flexibility with static stretching.
I teach stretching as a time for mental relaxation and focus. Most of the time stretching is used in populations because it "feels good". I try to promote that for my students. |
Annette Spagnuolo (Spagnu26)
New member
Username: Spagnu26
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 3:34 pm: | |
At my middle school we had the students walk around the gym for about 5 minutes before they sat down to stretch, that way their muscles were allowed to warm up a little before the day’s activities. We did not do any post activity stretching unless specific students were having muscle problems. Student at that age are still very flexible for the most part; therefore, myself and the other teachers I team taught with felt that stretching a little bit before the day’s activities was good enough and was mainly done to prevent injuries. |
amanda m (Handymandy)
New member
Username: Handymandy
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 4:53 pm: | |
I am currently a student in college and throughout my career I have been told that warming up prior to streching is very important because it is important to get the muscles warm. After warming up, the muscles will be warm, which will help with flexability and preventing muscle pulls. |
Travis J. Adams (Tjadams21)
Junior Member
Username: Tjadams21
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 5:31 pm: | |
We warm up, stretch, activity, cool down, stretch. I agree that the muscles need to be warm before stretching them. |
Jamie Nevel (Jamie)
Junior Member
Username: Jamie
Post Number: 5
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 11:59 am: | |
Stretching is always a good thing to do before and after class because it lessens the chances of someone pulling a muscle and if someone does you can have in your notes that they stretched so there are less liability issues. |
Jim Greci (Jimgreci)
New member
Username: Jimgreci
Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Monday, October 09, 2006 - 8:41 pm: | |
Students that perform at a high level need a warm-up and stretches based on their specialty. Middle school students in P.E. need a slow jog followed by as much active time as possible in the day's activity. They are performing at a recreational level and recreational activities among this age group rarely requires stretching. |
Cassie Miller (Clm8234)
Junior Member
Username: Clm8234
Post Number: 3
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 11:23 am: | |
Stretching is important at any age!! Whether is it before AND after and activity or as the main activity. Stretching before and after activities decreases the chances or injuries and soreness. Stretching as an activity is excellent because flexibility is an important component to life. You are less likely to be injured and as you grow older you retain a lot of your motion.
I agree that the muscles need to be warmed up before stretching. A little jog, arm circles, shaking the muscles should do the trick.
Cassie |
