The Stark Reality of Stretching: An Informed Approach for All Activities and Every Sport

For years I had practiced a series of stretches, picked up from various sources, in preparation for various physical activities that I enjoy: a little running, weight training, wing chun kung fu, and jeet kune do. Some of the stretches I had used were supposedly 'gentle' stretches, some even borrowed from yoga.Well, I picked this book up after suffering, for the first time in my life at 37 years of age, SEVERE shin-splints. This book was partly instrumental in understanding the cause and alleviating the pain.I would have to agree with other reviewers, though, that this book should include some upper body stretches, especially for the back. If you suffer back pain, it won't matter how well your lower body is stretched. A sore back will take you out of whatever sport you like to do.I was surprised to see that some common stretches are just plain harmful and dangerous (for example, 'hurdlers' stretches inflict long-term damage to the knee ligaments of the trailing leg), including some that are part of Bob Anderson's book "Stretching." However, since Anderson's book is at least twenty years old, perhaps it is just in need of an update.Update: since reading this book, I have spent a period with "The Wharton's Stretch Book" and later Thomas Kurz's "Scientific Stretching". "The Stark Reality of Stretching" focuses on static stretching, so in my opinion, the stretches it recommends are inappropriate before a sports activity. These stretches would be suitable as cool-down stretches or end-of-the-day relaxation stretches. A much better source for pre-sports stretching is "Scientific Stretching" by Thomas Kurz. This book simply doesn't cover the necessary bases for a comprehensive sports stretching program.

Part of my library that I refer to often.

Good transaction. Mainly wanted it to see what to do about bunions other than surgery. However, there was hardly any info on this particular, and I found text too technical for me.

Very outdated…even when I read it in 2017.

Interesting book about stretching.

The information in this book is interesting, but like the title, a little stark. It left me with more questions than answers. However, having said that, it is short and to the point (if a little repetitive) and informative in that you can implement the stretching advise pretty easily. I have found several of the stretches very helpful.

If you're looking for a lot of background on muscle physiology or a very specific method of stretching this book might interest you, but if you're looking for a good selection of stretches, you should be aware that you only get 6 stretches here. I found the title a little misleading, since "every sport" would seem to include tennis, baseball and swimming, but this book only addresses lower body flexibility. If you want to stretch your arms, back, shoulders, etc, you're out of luck here.I also found it annoying that the author promotes his personal stretching theory while using outdated studies to discredit other methods. For example, he uses studies from the early 70s to prove that PNF stretching is bad for you when the PNF stretching theories in use right now were not even developed at the time of the studies. Seemed like he was selectively choosing among the available research to prove his point while disregarding accepted theories that don't bolster his own method.

Stark's book is criticized here several times, for not addressing mid and upper body muscle groups. If I want advice on what to do about atherosclerosis, I will go see a cardiac specialist. And if I want expert advice for feet and closely associated physiology I will read Stark, because his methods and communication skills are among the best. Unlike some 'experts', Stark does not arrogantly venture beyond the scope of his discipline.Stark is a podiatrist. Maybe some of the complainants should have checked out his credentials before purchase.

Helpful in emphasizing moderation in stretching, but very, very repetative. Have to read through a lot of useless pages to get to the gist.

My wife uses it every morning before going to work. She is very happy with it.She would recomend it to everyone.

The main points of this book are relax into a stretch, don't stretch muscles that are simultaneously stabilising the body and, be aware that some stretches may be detrimental. This is a good book for someone who is new to stretching. The stretches will be familiar to people who stretch regularly, but it remains a good reminder to think about the stretch and not to go for the maximum position from the outset. It has made me focus on what I'm trying to achieve in Pilates positions even though this is not a Pilates book.Some of the exercises that are said by the author to be damaging may run counter to those illustrated in fitness magazines. A recent issue of a running magazine had a photo of an international athlete - who is also a chartered physiotherapist - doing a quadriceps stretch that is said by the author to be damaging to the articular cartilage of the knee cap. The hurdler's stretch is also said to be damaging but there is no comment as to whether or not the (Yoga) Pigeon pose is problematic. The comment on the traditional standing / bent forward hamstring stretch is interesting and can be modified for a much deeper stretch than shown in the book.There is a comment that a longer stride causes less impact on cartilage. If you're a runner, doesn't this depend on whether the foot strike is below the body as in the Pose Method?The research papers quoted are mainly from 30 years ago, and it would be interesting to see if there are recent developments. I mention this, as 30 years ago it was stretch before you exercised - try that in a frosty forest before an Orienteering event. Now it would be warm up then do some dynamic stretches, and/or stretch after exercise when the muscles are at full working temperature and as part of a cool down strategy to reduce the level of lactate.So a useful book, but a tad expensive for the content.