Question for Mr. Kurz

[ACEDC]

Dear Mr. Kurz:
I am a chiropractor and have found your books to be very good in terms of training of athletes. I take care of a lot of endurance athletes (I'm a triathlete myself) and have encouraged many athletes to stop stretching the way they were taught (static stretches prior to active workouts). My questions relate to the importance of any stretching for a runner, or a cyclist for that matter. Is it necessary at all? Since there isn't much range of motion necessary to jog/run long distances or cycle long distances (the knee joint and hip flexors never really extend far), is there any benefit to gaining more flexibility than what then already have? I've personally only used dynamic stretching prior to workouts and recommended it for similar athletes.

Interesting side note: I've helped many people with their injuries by teaching them to NOT stretch (static) and incorporate your methods for rehabilitation, so thank you in advance.

[Thomas Kurz]

How much flexibility one needs depends not only on ones' sport but also on one's all activities. Athletes whose sport does not require more flexibility than what they already have still may benefit from doing some stretches. Stretches are *one* of the means of correcting imbalances of ROM, of muscle tonus, and of muscle activation, that can lead to chronic injuries.