I came across this review of the current research on static stretching a couple weeks ago.  I felt not posting the study is promoting ignorance only to save my point which is just stupid, ego gets in the way of improvement too often.

Basically what the researchers did was take 106 studies on static stretching and review their creditably.  Many people who are pro-static stretching (SS) have mentioned some of these issues they bring up so it's good someone actually did the work.

First thing the researchers found was that 30% of the studies didn't provide reliably statistics.  That's 35 cases that end up referring back to my previous post on how not all research is good.  Those 35 might not be purposely done poorly but according to these researchers, they weren't good studies.

Next they found that most of the detrimental effects come from stretches that lasted over 60 seconds, which is stupid to research in the first place because how many of you hold a stretch over 60 seconds?  It's like a study proving plyometrics have a high risk of injury because they had untrained people doing 50 high hurdle jumps a day.

What they did find was that stretches under 30 seconds and 30 to 45 seconds didn't have any detrimental effect.  Now, before you pro-SS (I like saying it that way because it sounds like they are Nazi supporters) go nuts saying I told you so, they only found that SS (NAZIS) didn't have any detrimental effect.

They still don't show improvement and in the previous post I had on stretching I showed researching saying that weight lifting improves flexibility and that dynamic warm ups improve athletic performance.

If you are hung up on doing SS (now you're having sex with a Nazi) this study is for you because at least it's show that SS aren't bad (ya, explain that to Jews).  But really, with an other options to gain flexibility combined with improved performance is there any real reason for SS anymore (nope).  Abandon you're golden calf and look for the promise land (I had to make an old testament reference, just had to).

Feel free to read the study yourself:
Effects of Acute Static Stretch on Maximal Muscle