Fitness Friday: Another study finds stretching to be ineffective | Golf News and Tour Information [Video]

Poor, poor stretching. Once considered a staple to preparation for any sports activities, stretching has been singled out many times in recent years for its ineffectiveness in helping to prime the body for the rigors of athletic movement.

Yoga is often associated with long-hold stretching, as many of the poses do push the musculoskeletal system beyond its limitations at that time. But where yoga differs from stretching is that it also enhances muscular stability as well as proprioception. Stretching, studies have concluded, seems to have the opposite effect. Elongating muscles for prolonged periods reduces the ability to contract them quickly. It also makes it harder to coordinate movement.

But here’s what you should remember most about stretching, one study concluded: It DOES NOT help prevent injuries.

The Institute of Sports Medicine in Copenhagen, Denmark published the result of a massive study involving 25 trials and 26,610 participants. Of that group, …