Stretching: The Truth

When you find the ideal stretch point, lean into it very lightly, "bouncing" three times to extend your range of motion.

False. But don't get cocky, we made that one easy. Never bounce while stretching, no matter what your no-neck high school basketball coach told you. Bouncing through a stretch invites injury.

A good, careful stretching session before an activity reduces your chance of injury.

False. Boy, you're not very good at this. Exercise physiologists have tried many times to prove that stretching before an activity reduces injury. They have failed. There is some evidence -- some -- that regular stretching helps you recover from an injury.

Stretching lengthens muscles, not ligaments or tendons.

False, Einstein. The lengthening of connective tissue via regular stretching increases joints' range of motion.