Did you know that the most common type of stretching, known as static stretching, can actually do more harm than good to a person's muscles? Researchers have found that “the old routine of holding a position for 20-30 seconds actually weakens them” (Reynolds). So how should athletes warm up if stretching might actually be the cause of some injuries? Coaches and athletes should perform dynamic stretching rather than static stretching before performing an activity or exercise because it reduces the chance of injury, increases strength and range of motion, and has been shown to be safer and more efficient than static stretching. One of the major concerns that crosses an athlete's mind is sustaining an injury due to not warming up properly. A pulled muscle would only harm an athlete's performance and result in time being taken away from routine training to treat the injury. The warm-up should warm up the muscles and loosen them to avoid stiffness and/or tightness. An adequate warm-up is important because “warm muscles and dilated blood vessels absorb oxygen from the bloodstream more efficiently and therefore use stored muscle fuel more effectively” (Reynolds). When an athlete performs dynamic stretching, they are constantly moving throughout the entire warm-up and stretching at the same time. When a person performs static stretching, a short jog may be included before the stretch in an attempt to “warm up” the muscles in their body. Unfortunately, because all static stretches are performed stationary or on the ground, the muscles are given a good amount of time to cool down. Finally, when the time comes for the athlete to perform the actual workout, his muscles are cold and...... center of paper... the range of motion slowly exceeds the limits of the body in safe and controlled manner. manner. Finally, dynamic stretching strengthens muscles rather than weakening them unlike static stretching. Dynamic stretching can be performed by anyone and takes a long time, a benefit for both coaches and athletes. Works Cited Alter, Michael J. Sports Stretch. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1998. Print.Baechle, Thomas R., and Roger W. Earle. Essentials of strength and conditioning training. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2000. Print.Reynolds, Gretchen. "Stretching: The Truth." New York Times [New York] October 31, 2008. Print."Advantages and Disadvantages of Static Stretching." Fitness choices. August 4, 2010. Web. August 23, 2011. http://fitness.ygoy.com."Dynamic Stretching: Advantages and Disadvantages." Fitness choices. August 4, 2010. Web. August 23. 2011. .