What is Ballistic Stretching?

Answer:
Ballistic stretching is a type of stretching

in which the participant uses the momentum of a body part, or a limb, in order to force the muscle beyond its normal range of motion. This is accomplished by bouncing into a stretched position.

You then use the stretched muscles as a type of "spring" that pulls you out of the stretched position. If you played sports prepre 1990, you probably performed the good old cherry picker. This is where you stand with your legs straddled, then reach down between your legs and bounce as you reach farther back. This was a type of ballistic stretching.

Ballistic stretching has been out of vogue for years. This is due to the fact that it can likely lead to injury. While performing ballistic stretching, muscles are unable to adjust and adapt to the stretched position. It is thought that it may, in fact, cause them to tighten up due to the continuous activation of the stretch reflex. Nowadays, as we have learned, it is better to slowly drop into a stretch. Then, as the muscles adapt, slowly drop further into it.


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