Shrier used to stretch before he exercised, but no longer does. "I should be doing regular stretching in the morning, but I've replaced it with walking my dog. I really should do both."
Some stretching proponents agree that pre-exercise stretching isn't necessary but would argue for stretching after exercise to prevent muscle-joint stiffness and soreness. But is this any more effective than, say, spending the time in a hot shower?
Shrier feels there's no theoretical reason why stretching after exercise would be better than stretching every morning. Still, it's easier to remember to stretch if you stick it on the end of your exercise routine.
Those who argue for stretching argue vigorously; but their evidence is largely anecdotal. On the other hand, if you feel better stretching, and want the increased flexibility, and believe there's a chance it keeps you from getting injured, why not?
John Newman, 49, a college professor and a runner, has been going to stretch therapist Ali True twice a week for the last three months. They spend an hour working on both active and passive stretching. (Passive stretching is when someone stretches you--perhaps past the limit you could stretch yourself.)
"When I started, I would wake up very stiff in the morning, and I was concerned about arthritis," Newman says. "Now I can almost do a split. I'm much more flexible, and, of course, stretching feels good."
In the past when Newman has been training for marathons, he's always had an injury of some sort. This year he's had none. He attributes that to the fact that he has learned the correct ways to stretch, and he does it before and after exercising.
It's ironic that just when the scientific evidence has begun to cast doubts on some of the perceived benefits of stretching, Pilates (an exercise program that incorporates a lot of stretching) and yoga (the ultimate in static stretching) are so much in vogue.
With various styles going in and out of favor, stretching has become complicated. There are various types: active, passive, ballistic (the old-fashioned bouncing stretches), isometric and PNF (which stands for "proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation" and uses contract-relax techniques).
Lynn Millar, a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and a professor of physical therapy in Michigan, says she stretches before exercising but does what she calls "dynamic stretching," which involves more motion than the traditional static stretch. During the day, separate from her aerobic exercise, she also does gentle hamstring stretches and other stretching exercises for her back.
