SPORT MEDICINE
Above Dr. Kelly Starrett demonstrates an advanced rolling technique.
It’s A Stretch
Going beyond traditional thinking to optimize movement BY DR. KELLY STARRETT – Physical therapist, speaker, New York Times bestselling author of Becoming a Supple Leopard, living in San Francisco, CA THEREADYSTATE
“You need to stretch!”
Y
ou’ve heard it a million times before. The perplexing assertion that you’re not stretching enough and that it’s why you’re injured or sore, slow or clumsy. Think of your first coach admonishing you to stretch after practice or your gym teacher preaching about the importance of stretching. Oh, your back hurts? No problem! Just stretch your hamstrings
22 Inspiration Issue 2021
and it will feel better. You can’t get into a good squat position because your quads are tight? Just stretch them out. Conventional wisdom tells us that if we want to optimize athletic performance, improve flexibility, prevent muscle soreness and reduce potential for injury, we must stretch. For a long time, stretching has been a catch-all modality for dealing with soreness and pain, for range-of-motion restrictions and for joint
IMPACT Magazine
PHOTO BY DARREN MILLER/THE READY STATE
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