Benefits and disadvantages to stretching in a warm up?

Question

I am doing a piece of coursework for p.e, it is on stretching and it disscuses benefit and disadvatages of stretching in a warm up. I was wondering if anyone has come across a good websiter or artical on this topic, if so could you please sent me links or extracts. thank you

Answer 1

http://www.arthritisvic.org.au/pages.asp?d=5A4C5A717251477C7008060A070906

"Number one rule to prevent injury - warm up.

Warm up is a preparation for more vigorous activity and is essential before training and competition.

Muscles, tendons and joints are more flexible and function more efficiently when they are warm. It is not enough to assume muscles and joints are warm just because the weather is warm. Warming up involves at least 15 minutes of continuous activity using large muscles groups to redistribute blood flow to where it is more needed. Combined with gentle stretching of large muscle groups, warming up improves performance and reduces the risk of injury.

A cool down involving similar stretching and gentle aerobic activity after strenuous exercise is known to minimise muscle soreness."