Stretching: does it do any good? Maybe not

Stretching is one of those things you're told to always do when you embark on a fitness routine -- but is it really necessary? A new study shows that stretching before or after a workout does not prevent soreness or stiffness. The results were consistent over several tests, and came as a surprise to many -- myself included. I've always felt that my pre-run stretch was a huge help in preventing soreness compared to runs when I didn't stretch beforehand.

That's not to say you shouldn't stretch at all -- stretching has other benefits, such a flexibility. And really, who doesn't wish they were a bit more flexible?