How stretching actually changes your muscles - Malachy McHugh

How stretching actually changes your muscles - Malachy McHugh

TED-Ed

6.3M Views . 2023-03-30

Dig into the science of stretching, and find out what it actually does to your muscles and how you can improve your flexibility. -- An athlete is preparing for a game. They’ve put on their gear and done their warmup, and now it’s time for one more routine — stretching. Typically, athletes stretch before physical activity to avoid injuries like strains and tears. But does stretching actually prevent these issues? And if so, how long do the benefits of stretching last? Malachy McHugh explores the finer points of flexibility. Lesson by Malachy McHugh, directed by Sofia Pashaei. Support Our Non-Profit Mission ---------------------------------------------- Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreon Check out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop ---------------------------------------------- Connect With Us ---------------------------------------------- Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletter Follow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebook Find us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitter Peep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram ---------------------------------------------- Keep Learning ---------------------------------------------- View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-stretching-actually-changes-your-muscles-malachy-mchugh Dig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-stretching-actually-changes-your-muscles-malachy-mchugh#digdeeper Music: https://www.campstudio.co ---------------------------------------------- Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Cyrus Garay, Samuel Barbas, LadyGeek, Marin Kovachev, Penelope Misquitta, Hans Peng, Gaurav Mathur, Erik Biemans, Tony, Michelle, Katie and Josh Pedretti, Hoai Nam Tran, Kack-Kyun Kim, Michael Braun-Boghos, zjweele13, Anna-Pitschna Kunz, Edla Paniguel, Thomas Mungavan, Jaron Blackburn, Venkat Venkatakrishnan, ReuniteKorea, Aaron Henson, Rohan Gupta, Begum Tutuncu, Brian Richards, Jørgen Østerpart, Tyron Jung, Carsten Tobehn, Katie Dean, Ezgi Yersu, Gerald Onyango, alessandra tasso, Doreen Reynolds-Consolati, Manognya Chakrapani, Ayala Ron, Eunsun Kim, Phyllis Dubrow, Ophelia Gibson Best, Paul Schneider, Joichiro Yamada, Henrique Cassús, Karthik Cherala, Clarence E. Harper Jr., Vignan Velivela, Ana Maria, Exal Enrique Cisneros Tuch, Tejas Dc, Khalifa Alhulail, Martin Stephen, Jose Henrique Leopoldo e Silva, Mandeep Singh and Abhijit Kiran Valluri.

The video discusses the benefits of stretching, particularly focusing on a static hamstring stretch. It explains that stretching, while temporarily increasing flexibility, does not permanently prevent muscle injuries. To achieve lasting flexibility, a consistent stretching routine over a longer period is necessary.

stretching

muscle flexibility

muscle injury

sarcomeres

Stretching, both dynamic and static, involves elongating tissues surrounding muscle fibers and tendons, improving range of motion.
Muscle is viscoelastic, meaning it changes under stress and its resistance to stretching decreases with each stretch, but these effects are temporary and last only about 10 minutes.

Insights from the YouTube Video Script:

1. The Science Behind Stretching: More Than Just Rubber Bands

The text reveals that muscle isn't just like a rubber band. It's viscoelastic, meaning it changes under stress and doesn't simply return to its original shape. This understanding clarifies how stretching actually works on a cellular level, affecting both the protective tissues surrounding muscle fibers and the sarcomeres within them.

2. Stretching's Transient Effects: A Short-Lived Benefit?

The text emphasizes that the benefits of stretching are temporary. While it temporarily increases flexibility and reduces the chance of muscle injury, these effects disappear within 10 minutes without further activity. This highlights the

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