Exercise Test: Truth or Myth?

[snopes]

Some exercise folklore, such as the runner’s high, is eventually proved. But far more common are the persistent myths, including the following two.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/he...7BestSIDE.html

[ganzfeld]

I'm very interested to hear what people thin about stretching. My own opinion is that regular and mild stretching is good but that stretching just before exercise or sports is overrated and perhaps even detrimental.

[Artemis]

Wasn't there another Times article about how stretching doesn't make a difference?

Ah, here it is. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/he...retching&scp=1

I think for someone that exercises regularly doesn't need to worry about stretching all that much- maybe just enough to limber up a little. I would say warm up is more important.

But stretching does serve a purpose- it's on the microscopic level. Stretching increases the distance the actin in muscle can move. For instance, if somebody (that hasn't had any real activity lately) decides to go out for a run or something, they could end up injuring themselves/pulling a muscle because that flexibility isn't there.

Does that sound completely moronic and/or wrong? We were talking about that a couple of weeks ago in my physiology class (why stretching is at least semi-important).

I heard that stretching for long distance running and cycling doesn't improve performance, while for sprinting it does due to the amount of elastic energy the tendons have to store. I imagine the benefits would also be more important for somethings like gymnastics.