Stretching will NOT prevent running injuries - but a warm-up walk might

It's a common and persistent myth that static stretching improves running performance and decreases the risk of injuries, researchers say. Australian scientists say you can skip static stretches for hamstrings and glutes before a run, as these won't prevent injury, just perhaps help you feel a little less stiff 'Runners have certain beliefs around running injury risks, injury prevention and performance that are in contrast to current research evidence,' James Alexander of La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, told Reuters Health by email. 'These beliefs drive runners to continue to pursue ineffective or non-optimal strategies within their running training, whether through static stretching for injury prevention or low-load strength training for performance,' said Alexander, lead author of an infographic designed to distinguish evidence from myth. A brisk walk or light jog will help you build up strength and improve running performance which, in turn, cuts risks for injuries like Achilles tendonitis, the researchers say These problems often occur when runners increase running frequency, intensity and duration too quickly. 'If runners wish to do a small amount of static stretching and find anecdotally that it helps them, it probably won't negatively impact performance or increase injury risk,' he told Reuters Health by email.