Is it best to stretch before or after a run?
“One way to engage and warm-up or stretch a muscle prior to an athletic event is to complete dynamic warm-up exercises. There are several that we like to do including “shoe sweep” , “lunge twist” and “high kick walkouts”. Always perform long static stretches after a warm up such as a short run or after the entire run. It is best not to perform long static stretches prior to a run when muscles are “cold” because this could cause injury. Also, new research shows that performance is hampered by static stretching prior to an athletic activity,” Shelley Hanchett, PT, CHT Advanced Physical Therapy Center – Clio.
Here is a video with a sample dynamic warm-up:
Advanced Physical Therapy Center 