QuickCheck: Is stretching before exercising really necessary?

Most of us loved the physical education or Pendidikan Jasmani period in school. It usually begins with us doing some fun stretches and hip rotations before moving on to the actual games.

This is a practice most of us have carried along into adulthood and into our workouts today. But some are saying that stretching, especially the static ones (holding still in a position to lengthen a muscle) may not be an effective, or even necessary approach.