Stretching before exercise increases the risk of injury. Static stretching exercises before training can reduce muscle strength and thus performance by up to 30 percent.
Extensive stretching, in which a certain posture is held for as long as possible, reduces muscle tension (muscle tone). – very beneficial after vigorous training, but not before physical activity. Running, jumping or doing squats in place is often enough. Yoga and Pilates are also considered ideal supplements for endurance athletes. For skiers these are e.g. the legs and knees; for tennis players, the shoulders, arms and hands.