Does having a greater overall flexibility make you faster (by ROM or something)? In terms of increasing general flexibility, I mean over the course of several months through dynamic movements, foam rolling, etc. everyday.
Does having a greater overall flexibility make you faster (by ROM or something)? In terms of increasing general flexibility, I mean over the course of several months through dynamic movements, foam rolling, etc. everyday.
I am very flexible. I think this is an important reason I am not good at long distances. But it helps at short distances I think.
In a word, no.
No. It will actually make you slower (learned this in biomechanics for my physio degree).
Running is about the harvesting, storing and return of ground reaction force. Think of your tendons as springs. Which returns more energy faster - a stiff spring with not a lot of travel or a loose spring with lots of travel? Obviously the stiff spring.
But which would attract more dysfunction? The stiff spring.
It's a tradeoff. It's definitely possible to be too stiff and stretching is important. But this idea more flexibility equals faster runners in a direct proportional relationsip is incorrect.
This said, I stretch thoroughly after every run. It just feels good.
Foam rolling and dynamic movements will not make you more flexible, but it will prevent your muscles from tightening up. There's a big difference here. And YES, keeping your muscles soft and supple will make you faster. Or more correctly, prevent you from slowing down.
kutdsrht wrote:
No. It will actually make you slower (learned this in biomechanics for my physio degree).
Running is about the harvesting, storing and return of ground reaction force. Think of your tendons as springs. Which returns more energy faster - a stiff spring with not a lot of travel or a loose spring with lots of travel? Obviously the stiff spring.
But which would attract more dysfunction? The stiff spring.
It's a tradeoff. It's definitely possible to be too stiff and stretching is important. But this idea more flexibility equals faster runners in a direct proportional relationsip is incorrect.
This said, I stretch thoroughly after every run. It just feels good.
This is correct and there are studies to back it up. Runners world had a couple articles recently about this as well.