For years we have been told that we need to stretch before working out. It was suppose to help us prevent injuries by warming up the muscles. Now we are being told that stretching can be a bad thing if done before a workout. It can take away energy and reduce our efficiency, it can lead to other injuries. Stretching is now suggested for after a workout. With all of the pros and cons where do you sit on this fence? Do you make a point of stretching and if so, when do you do it?
Well if I'm going to be stretching, I do it long before I even decide that I'm going to be working out. I don't even bother doing it after a workout, because all my energy will be far too drained to even attempt that. But I have to say that I can't stand these studies sometimes. They come out saying one thing and then years later they try to tell you something else.
I would do a dynamic warm up before the workout. In other words I would do a little bit of jogging, things such as high knees, leg swings, ect. Then after the workout I do static stretching.
