We’ve all been conditioned into believing that stretching is good for us – and there’s plenty of evidence to support this. But, says Roy Stevenson, does stretching in runners really improve performance and reduce injury?

Stretching has always been considered a staple part of the runner’s preparation and training. Ever since the running boom started in the 1970s, there have been strident claims that it improves performance and reduces the chance of injury. Other supposed benefits include reducing post-race or post-training muscle soreness, relieving lower back pain, counteracting muscle imbalances and relieving muscle cramps.

Yet, in the past 10 years the practice of stretching for these purposes has been challenged by exercise scientists, especially since one bombshell study found overstretching to be the third most important cause of injury to distance runners.