flexibility vs strength

Have had a physio appt due to bad back -nothing serious, just too much driving and computer time in my job. One on the things the physio commented on was how tight my hamstrings and achilles were, and has given me some stretches and said, long term, I should be able to squat with my heels flat on the floor.
I was under the impression that all fellrunners had tight hamstrings/achilles, so wondered if this conferred any advantage? I don't want to spend hours on stretches and squats only to find that my ankles are less strong and I can't run up hill any more.
Any thoughts? Physio didn't seem to think it would be a problem but they are not a running specialist.

I have had similar complaints due to overtight hamstrings and it continues to be a problem for me if I don't stretch a lot, especially after exercise.

From where you are, I don't think you can become overflexible. However, the problems of being underflexible are that you'll continue to have back problems.

Have a look at mobilitywod.com go back to the first post, it's about squatting. Have a search on there for hamstrings and achillies and you should get plenty of ideas. I've found it really useful for sorting out niggles before they become injuries. To see any benefit I've had to do 20 to 30 min a day, which seems a lot but its something to do when the tv's on.

Hi newbie,

I went to the physio with a back of the knee pain to be told that I had a hamstring pull which resulted with 6 weeks of physio - she commented that my hamstrings were very tight and that I had a short stride length for a 6' tall person who runs. I dont believe that this has affected my running in anyway as I have always been reasonable at it for the last 20 years. She gave me a series of exercises to assist with both the hamstring injury and tightness. I have subsequently canned these after my injury virtually cleared up.

I asked her if there was any proof that stretching prevented injury as I dont stretch prior or after exercise (warm up to me is having a coffee) and have not been injured in 20 years. She said that there is absolutely no proof that stretching prior / after exercise prevents injury, but also that there is no proof that not stretching increases the chances of injury. BUT she did say that regular stretching prevents injury - so I now stretch on a regular basis - around once every 6 months.

I'm a great believer in flexibility preventing injury but also generally being good for the body as we get older.

You shouldn't stretch pre-exercise by the way. Cold muscles don't stretch well and you could injure yourself.

I (nearly) always stretch afterward exercise and feel stiff if I don't.

Not performing well for me is more about how fit I am not how flexible I am though!!! ;)

Took my lass to the Physio yesterday, she's had a back injury due we think to carrying a bag on one shoulder around college, she has really tight Hamstrings which for years I've said she needs to stretch, the physios take on it was that this is probably not what caused the injury and it would be unnecessary to over-stretch to try to cure something which is just the way she's made, over-stretching could possibly cause injury so she's better just accepting that her 'hams' are tight, on the plus side she can hyper extend her ankles... weird, just a different take on the stretching debate, personally I run around 60-70 miles a week and I don't stretch, would stretching make any difference to me, I don't know...:confused:

I. started stretching pretty much every day about 6 months ago. From my experience I feel much better and improved for it. I do lots of different stretches to suit the training I do. I noticed how tight my muscles were before. My legs ache less after runs and I feel fitter generally! I also find strecjing after exersize a really good way to cool down. I can touch my toes now. No where near 6 months ago. My bach ache has more or less disappeared too! Got a foam roller aswell that helps with my sore legs!

I had years of hamstring problems, it wasn’t until a physio diagnosed tight hamstrings and I really set about doing proper stretching that I got on top of the injury. It also lead to me running quicker than I have ever done.

I am a convert to stretching from somebody that did none at all.

ATB

Tahr

I've always had tight hamstrings but I've spent various periods of my life doing yoga or tai chi and that definitely helps. Recently I have got lazy about stretching and haven't done nearly enough yoga sessions and my back is playing up and my hamstrings feel tighter than ever. I'd love to believe that stretching makes no difference to how well I run but unfortunately, it makes a big difference in preventing my back pain, stopping me pulling my hamstrings, preventing my knee injury flaring up and generally making me feel more nimble. Perhaps some people don't need to stretch but I am making regular stretching (and strength exercises) a new year's resolution and I am in no doubt that I'll feel better for it. It may not make me faster but I think it will lessen the likelihood of injury and make me feel less stiff.

Not sure that stretching helps running as such. But I do think storeing up areas of tightness can cause injuries, pulls or tightness elsewhere thus curtailing training etc. I had tight quads which caused tight calfs and knee/IT band issues. I had five years of limited running due to chronic 'tight calfs'. I now do bits of yoga and regularly stretch the quads off and feel much better for it. I think my problems started when I started swimming less which I think is quite a good sport for flexibilty.

Thanks for the useful replies. Having seen much less pre/post race stretching in fell running than road races, I had wondered if this was for a reason, e.g. less flexible Achilles gave added ankle stability on downhills. However, looks like we are just less public about it. Better commence the squats before my back seizes up!

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Originally Posted by newbie

Thanks for the useful replies. Having seen much less pre/post race stretching in fell running than road races, I had wondered if this was for a reason, e.g. less flexible Achilles gave added ankle stability on downhills. However, looks like we are just less public about it. Better commence the squats before my back seizes up!

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I think that in order to be able to do what I ask my body to do week in week out - which is to run up and down hills - I just need to do lots of running up and down hills, I trust my body to work out the rest. I only stretch when I feel like I would really like a stretch, not because I've been told to stretch. I like to think of my tight leg muscles as coiled springs ready for work, I wouldn't want to have a loose floppy springs. No. My body has decided it wants tight leg muscles so that's what it's got.

i do 2 stretches (20secs) of each leg
quad, hamstring, calf after each run
that's 2 x 20 x 3 x2 = 4 mins well spent