After injuring her knee cap early in the volleyball season, sophomore DaeBreona Byrd got back on her feet and started stretching so she could return to the court.

“Eventually I will get back. (They told me to) keep working with what I have to do and what I’m told to do so that I can eventually get back to playing,” Byrd said.

Byrd said she thinks athletes must understand the type of stretch to perform in order to help prevent injuries.

“If you’re not perfectly limber and stretched out, I think that can increase your risk of injury,” Byrd said. “No athlete wants to be injured, so I think that it’s good to stretch when you need to stretch.”

According to high school athletic trainer Jeremy Shepperd, static stretching consists of stationary moves, whereas dynamic stretching includes movement.

“Static stretching is basically a stretch that you hold for an extended period of time. Dynamic is basically movement, so that’s a stretch that you’re doing as you move,” Shepperd said.

Shepperd expressed the importance of completing the correct stretches at the right time. He said dynamic stretching should be done as a warm-up before a workout begins.

“Dynamic stretching basically moves your muscles through a full range of motion while preparing them for activity,” he said.

Byrd said the volleyball coach instructs the team to complete the correct stretches before and after practice.

“We do dynamic warm-ups, instead of like a static stretch, which is like cherry-pickers and butt-kickers, and that kind of thing,” she said. “Our coach tells us that they’re better for us and to do static stretches at the end.”

Shepperd said static stretching only proves beneficial for athletes after they have warmed up.

“Static stretching, because you are holding for an extended period of time, is good for lengthening your tissue and while you know you body’s already warmed up after activity,” Shepperd said.

Head basketball coach Dave Breitenbucher said he thinks warming up correctly before playing is extremely important.

“If you think you’re just going to go out onto the court and play at a high level without being stretched out properly, you’re just asking for trouble,” Breitenbucher said. “Not just injuries but you’re just not going to able to play the game the right way.”

Breitenbucher said he thinks he can improve his knowledge when it comes to performing specific stretches.

“I was impressed with what he was showing our athletes, especially when it comes to the ankle stretches,” he said. “I don’t have a lot of information. “I need to learn more even about the correct stretches.”

Callahan said he thinks proper stretching can prevent injury.

“You can injure yourself pretty easily if you don’t do the right stretches, or if you are stretching too much or too little,” Callahan said.