Customer Reviews

Sport Stretch

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Michael J. Alter's Sport Stretch is one of the
best sources out there for the Modern Athlete.
I have used the book to assist in my Martial
Arts training and it has helped to greatly
improve my whole training program. Idea for
every athlete but best for anyone who need to
work on flexablity. Get this for the Martial
Artist, Gymist, or Dancer that you know.

Nicely compliments Alter's Science of Flexibility, this book has many many flexibility exercises and applies then to a good variety of sports (or you can use this as a very nice stretching reference - both for exercises and for theory and methods). I think this book is better than Anderson's book which has been used as the reference for stretching. One typo though, when talking about dynamic stretching, but the illustration is correct.

I am a certified personal trainer, athlete, medical massage practitioner and I teach anatomy/physiology, so I review this book with some authority.

The opening chapters explain quite nicely the scientific rationale for, and benefits of, stretching for those who prefer to have a technical basis for what they do. You'll find great variety here and many unique stretches I've not seen in similar books.

To address some of the negative reviews:

Nowhere does the author recommend performing dangerous stretches or techniques beyond the abilities of the reader. Some advanced stretches are presented for informational purposes but with the caveat that these are for VERY specific applications and should be attempted ONLY if you do not have contraindicated conditions. To quote the book: "There is generally no such thing as an unsafe stretch or exercise: only an unsafe way of executing any movement for a specific individual at a specific time". In other words, everyone is different and the reader should use good judgment in their choices. Some people will take very "safe" stretches and get injured by using sloppy form or not training within their abilities while others can perform "dangerous" stretches very safely by proceeding slowly, deliberately and realistically training within their own physical limitations.

Some reviewers purport that 2 or 3 stretches are all that you need and the author is fooling you with many "goofy" stretches. Ridiculous! Can a carpenter build a house with only a hammer and level? NO! If two good stretches were all you needed for each muscle, then the book would simply be entitled, "Two Stretches That Work For Every Person and Sport". Personally, I like that the author has provided a huge amount of variety. That way, I can try any number of the 311 stretches taught and find the 3 or 4 that work best for me for each muscle group. As my needs change, then I can go back to the book and try something different. I would rather have too much information than not enough. If some readers are annoyed by the variety there are plenty of very basic, boring stretch books out there to fill their needs. Also, if you read and understand the opening chapters, you'll know how to adapt any of the stretches to active, dynamic, PNF or vice versa. The book will not limit your advancement as some reviewers mistakenly believe.

I highly recommend this book. It's clear, concise and presents many options, from basic to advanced, for you to build a good stretching program.

I was very pleased with this book. As I read the other reviews, there unhappiness with the book comes from the fact that it is not for every day people. I am very pleased with that fact and the title does imply that it is for people involved in sports. I am a mother of a 7 year old gymnast and I have been very challenged to find a book on stretching that will enhance her flexibility at an advanced stage. I am working with her coaches to ensure safety and develop a schedule that will make her a better gymnast. I was very pleased with the variety of stretches, pictures and descriptions for the stretches.

If you are looking for more advanced stretches than in Bob Anderson's book, this is it. (Though it has very basic positions too)

I'm a former couch potato who started doing Tae Bo and cardio kickboxing almost two years ago. I recently added yoga to my routine for flexibility, and pilates for strength and control, but found that I needed more. In particular, I wanted greater flexibility in my adductor muscles so that I could kick higher and with increased control. I found that I was also having some knee problems. So I checked out every book that my local library had on stretching and flexibility; out of the dozen or so books I looked at, I liked three of them, including "Sport Stretch," well enough that I purchased my own copies.

"Sport Stretch" begins with a discussion of flexibility, then launches into descriptions of 311 different stretches. Most of these consist of a single illustration with a few bulleted instructions. The stretches themselves are arranged into chapters based on muscle groups, including feet and ankles, lower legs, hamstrings, adductors, quadriceps, hips and gluteals, lower torso, upper back, neck, pectorals, shoulders, and arms and wrists.

Additionally, the author includes an index at the beginning of the book that singles out stretches that are helpful for specific sports. One- to three-page sections are dedicated to each of the following: archery; baseball, softball, and cricket; basketball; bowling; cross-country skiing; cycling and triathlon; dance; diving; figure skating; football; golf; gymnastics; hiking and backpacking; ice hockey; in-line skating; jogging; lacrosse; martial arts; race walking; rowing, kayacking, and canoeing; sailing and windsurfing; skiing; soccer; squash; swimming; table tennis; tennis, racquetball, and handball; track and field; volleyball; water skiing; weight lifting; and wrestling.

As a BEGINNER, I found most of the stretches helpful. There were some standard moves that I was already familiar with from my high school gym classes, as well as some more challenging exercises I learned in yoga. However, a number of the stretches were completely new to me. I'm especially happy with the adductor section, as it's exactly what I needed to help with my roundhouse kicks! Note the emphasis on "beginner," though - because I'm such a novice, I really can't say whether more advanced athletes will find "Sports Stretch" useful or not.

As much as I like the book, I do have a few complaints. Most of the stretches, with few exceptions, only have a single illustration. Given the minimalist instructions, many of the moves could have used at least one extra picture. Also, once I eased into certain stretches, I found it difficult to gracefully get OUT of them. It seems to me as though the author should have included "exit strategies" for some of a stretches, particularly the more advanced ones! Finally, a few stretches come with the following caveat: "This exercise may be too advanced or dangerous for even some elite athletes." Now, I would think that "elite" or even "professional" athletes have trainers, and wouldn't need to rely on a book for stretching advice - so I really don't see why the author included these seemingly dangerous stretches. Unless he's asking for a lawsuit! ;)

Otherwise, a great buy, at least for beginner-to-moderate athletes.

If I could only have one book on stretching, this would be it. Not only are there a whole lot of stretches, there is a very solid introduction covering the different types of stretching, how and why stretching works and how to stretch. I like the way there are plenty of choices for each body part. As a martial artist, I need to stretch every day and doing the same few stretches every time gets really boring. There are a quite a few advanced stretches here - especially if you participate in an activity that requires extreme flexibility like dance, gymnastics or martial arts.

I like the way the author set up the book with a clear introduction of the anatomy and mechanics of stretching. In addition, the use of charts for "sport specific" stretching guidelines is extremely useful. Illustration are clear and easy to understand. ~ Rik Feeney / Writing Books for Fun, Fame & Fortune!

This book is one of the better books on streching. I like the fact that it gives the top stretches so that you can still get a good stretch in a shorter time. The drawings are actually not to bad. Too many books that I have seen have bad contrast in photos and it becomes hard to see what is going on.

The illustrations are rudimentary, with an almost complete abscence of written instruction for very risky, complicated, stretches. Some of them are the usual tired yoga stretches that get promoted now-a-days. While others make the knee joint the weight-bearing point. Beware, some of these stretches WILL damage your body beyond repair. Advice in the book is often hearsay, like "all wrestlers do the yoga shoulder stand" (?)
I once knew a ballerina in a professional company who told me that the ballerinas have a short career, arthritis from extreme stretching helps ensure that, she said. Use this book to damage bodies only.