Exercise Myths: 'The Revolution' Talks Lean Bodies And Stretching

Trying to get fit but not sure if the advice you've gotten is right or not? In the above clip, "The Revolution" tackles some exercise myths, providing tips on how to get a lean body and whether or not you should stretch before and during exercise.

Comments

[mpaul49]

03:37 PM on 02/11/2012

I'm 62. When I was 26 I threw my back out badly enough that I crawled into the doctor's office and was proscribed percodan and offered a spinal fusion. I threw it out one more time in my 30's. I've also suffered two whiplash injuries. I began practicing yoga around that time. The key that I've found is learning to stretch properly. I'd call what I do more akin to joint massage than stretching, although I am very flexible. I can place my hands flat on the floor with my shoes on without feeling much stretch. The important thing from my perspective is that I practice a little yoga and walk three miles a day. My body feels better now than it did at 30.

[FSK52]

02:41 PM on 02/09/2012

You can get some great stretches from the National Institute on Aging's Go4Life campaign at www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life. Follow the project on twitter @NIAGo4Life for great tips illustrating that you really are never too old to get physically active!

[fromthechrysalis]

12:51 PM on 02/09/2012

This again. What nonsense! I guess if you grew up in a cloister totally devoid of contact with the outside world you wouldn't know that all animals stretch. Every pet I've ever had stretches when it wakes up - it gets acids out of your muscles so you can flush them out of your body. They would also often stretch before engaging in playtime.

Those who don't stretch before doing something physical run the risk of pulled and torn muscles, stressed ligaments and tendons and by extension - bone fractures. This isn't mere knowledge it is Gnosis etched into our very DNA. Anybody who says otherwise is an idiot.

[dedwardsmith]

08:42 PM on 02/09/2012

New research by the top minds in strength and conditioning have indeed debunked the benefits of stretching. When "stretching" often we are in fact pushing against protective contractions due restrictive nerve, joint or fascial restrictions.

The benefits of dynamic warm-ups profoundly outweigh that of static stretching.

We no longer behave and move as we did thousands of years ago. Keep in mind a dog does not wake up after a nap to "stretch" by holding a position for long periods of time. The dog is involved in motion the increase circulation to tissue. Big difference.

[fromthechrysalis]

09:38 PM on 02/09/2012

Um, well the actual "top minds in strength and condtioning" refute this nonsense. You equate stretching with potential damage when in fact you are really saying that people aren't stretching properly.

We are bipedal hominids and unless billions of us have grown wings or prehensile tails without me knowing it, we actually do move exactly as we did thousands of years ago. Every dog owner who actually pays attention witnesses their dog stretch after a nap, almost without fail, every single time. If they were just "in motion to increase circulation to tissue" they wouldn't stretch, they would just um, go "in motion", like walk or run.

There are actually very few non-stretch advocates in the entire industry. They are vastly outnumbered by those whose opinions are better respected. You know, the actual "top minds" instead of the fringe element trying to sell books and videos by saying bombastic untrue things as if they were fact?

[GetAbike]

12:46 PM on 02/12/2012

Calling a professional trainer an idiot is pretty harsh for someone who obviously does not exercise themselves.
oh ya, "...Every pet I've ever had stretches..."
hahahaha
context, man, context!

[fromthechrysalis]

03:08 AM on 02/13/2012

Context? As in "professional trainers" are now as a group considered to be savants when the archetypal meme clearly depicts the opposite, like a meathead? (HAHAHAHAHA!!!) I've never met a "professional" who had a degree, they were all meatheads just trying to get free memberships by working as a trainer.

As for the authors of these studies, they are outnumbered tens of thousands to one; and that's being generous. Just as non-stretch advocates are outnumbered by the rest of the animal kingdom eh?

I love it when the fringe element tries to pretend they are the norm. Why don't you exercise your brain?

[jaggy123]

12:07 PM on 02/09/2012

being age 45 and noticing the changes occurring in my body, let me tell you, you best be stretching regularly-but smartly! flexibility decreases with alacrity past your forties.

[DevRock]

03:13 PM on 02/09/2012

Ditto. I'm not far behind ya. And let me tell you, I've pulled my hamstring more than once for not stretching. I've also gone through 2 rounds of PT due to injuries caused by.....not stretching.

[mewanna3]

10:54 AM on 02/09/2012

I have never stretched and it is unnessary...it adds nothing but additional stress to your body

[Just Don]

11:31 AM on 02/09/2012

I have always stretched and it is necessary...it adds everything except additional stress to my body.

[mewanna3]

01:23 PM on 02/09/2012

I am 53, never had an injuries despite playing all sports and can still run like a deer...never stretched and never recommend it...I think it is for &JL$

[doncatozza56]

10:45 AM on 02/09/2012

i've done martial arts for 20+yrs (tae kwon do,etc.) and always stretched before a workout .it involves a lot of kicking and movement and being loose and limber is a must.i always tell my students to work slowly into the stretch to avoid any type of injury.flexibilty will come it takes time and patience.

[Dan el]

08:58 AM on 02/09/2012

Stretching-It feels so damn good

[jaggy123]

12:08 PM on 02/09/2012

done sensitively-yes!

[llb941]

08:51 AM on 02/09/2012

I believe ALL of the physical fitness people I've known highly recommend stretching, but some more than others.