What is Ballistic Stretching?

Ballistic stretching a type of warm-up or workout routine that involves quick, jerking motions. An individual engaging in a ballistic stretch will suddenly bounce a leg or arm beyond its normal range of motion in an attempt to stretch the muscles involved. It is intended to quickly loosen muscles and increase flexibility, though many experts caution that the high intensity of this type of stretching can cause serious injuries. Most doctors, personal trainers, and anatomy experts discourage this type of stretching, preferring either dynamic or static stretching techniques instead to produce safe, effective results.

A ballistic stretch can potentially be used on a number of muscles and joints, including the shoulders, knees, hips, and ankles. A person could, for example, stand upright and repeatedly raise his or her knee quickly, bouncing it past its comfortable range of motion. While this type of exercise is designed to loosen the hamstring and quadriceps, all it really does is put excess strain on these muscles, the hip, and the knee joint. A muscle or ligament could easily tear or strain from a sudden jerk beyond normal movement. Irreversible tissue or nerve damage in joints is also possible from this kind of stretching.

Ballistic stretching is somewhat popular among athletes, who often see such stretches as a quick warm-up for physically intensive activities. In fact, personal trainers sometimes aid in ballistic stretching. An athlete might lie on the ground on her back, while a trainer lifts one of her legs and pushes it towards her body. When the muscles stop the leg from moving any further, the trainer forces it forward in a bouncing movement one or more times.

Sports science experts, trainers, and doctors usually recommend alternatives to ballistic stretching, including low-impact static and dynamic exercises. Static stretching involves gradually moving into a stretched position until a joint reaches its maximum comfortable range of motion, and then holding that position for an extended time. A trainer or partner can also help a person hold a static stretching position. Dynamic stretching involves more movement, such as raising or swinging an arm in a circle, but it is done slowly and steadily to approach the maximum range of motion.

Both static and dynamic stretches work to increase muscle flexibility and strength over time through repetition. Such exercises allow athletes and health enthusiasts to increase their abilities without risking injury. Knowledgeable athletes and their trainers understand that the intensity of ballistic stretching can certainly do more harm than good to a person's body.