Muscle Stretching

Stretching helps promote a healthily lifestyle, and should be a part of everyone’s normal routine. One of the greatest attributes of muscle stretching is that anyone can do it. You do not have to be a super athlete, or an athlete at all to experience firsthand the benefits of stretching your muscles. Another positive aspect is that it does not require any equipment or special clothing. You do not have to go to a fitness center, or purchase anything at a sports store to realize all the benefits of stretching your muscles. In addition, you can stretch anytime and nearly anywhere. You can stretch your muscles when talking on the phone, watching television, talking to a friend, listening to music, etc. You can stretch your muscles in an airport, train station, bathroom, kitchen; you can stretch just about anywhere.

So, why doesn’t everyone routinely stretch their muscles? I believe the primary reason for not stretching is because people do not realize its life changing benefits. For those that realize the benefits and still don’t take time to stretch, normally use the “don’t have time” excuse for skipping it.

We encourage you to take the time to learn how to stretch, whether you are an athlete, or simply a person that wants to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. The only word of caution is that if you have injuries, or any other type of medical condition that might render stretching unsafe, you should first consult your doctor.

General Guidelines for Stretching your Muscles

Muscle Stretching is not complicated, but in order to maximize the benefits, there are a few things you need to know. First of all your body should be in control throughout the stretch. Never jerk or bounce while stretching, doing so can lead to unnecessary injuries. Muscle stretching should consist of movements that could be described as slow, steady, and in control.

Second, warm up the muscles by jogging in place, performing light repetitions of the movement you are going to perform; or if you are lifting weights, perform several repetitions using light weights. Warming up is an important component of muscle stretching, so make sure you warm up your muscles before stretching them.

Third, as you move into the stretch, you should stop and hold the position when you feel the muscles tighten. This feeling is often described as a burning feeling. When muscles are being stretched you will experience a slight burning or similar feeling; this is normal. When you are stretching and your joints hurt, or you are experiencing an abnormal type of pain you need to stop, this is not normal. Lastly, you should hold each stretch in place for at least 30 seconds, performing two or more sets depending on your goals and purpose for muscle stretching.

Fourth, you should know when to stretch your muscles. Some people advocate stretching before a physical activity, and some recommend stretching afterwards; I recommend both. Before a physical activity, you should warm up and stretch your muscles in preparation of the activity. Once you have completed the activity stretch again, and spend more time stretching than before. If I had to choose whether to stretch before or after an activity, I’d choose afterwards, but I believe muscle stretching both times are important.

Finally, develop a muscle stretching routine. If you exercise on a regular basis make sure you include stretching into your routine. If you do not exercise on a regular basis, you should set aside some time each day to stretch your muscles; make it a habit. Once stretching becomes a habit, you will be well on your way to reaping some of the benefits gained from stretching your muscles.

Benefits of Stretching

The benefits of muscle stretching can be debated, but in that debate I am firmly on the positive side of stretching the muscles. I stand by this opinion based on years of personal experience, and reading dozens of articles written on the subject. Between athletics, karate, weight lifting, and participating in all types of skating, I have been stretching my muscles for most of my life. Are there really benefits to stretching? Most definitely! The benefits include, but are certainly not limited to; enhanced performance, decreased risk of injury, improved overall health, increased flexibility and range of motion, and enhanced mental wellbeing.

Increased Performance: Stretching your muscles can enhance performance by helping athletes (and non-athletes), physically prepare for the physical activity they are about to perform. For example, I can’t imagine football players taking the field, or figure skaters practicing certain moves without warming up, and stretching their muscles. This could be said about multiple sports related, and other physical-type activities. Likewise, muscle stretching can potentially increase an amateur athlete’s or the occasional basketball player’s ability to perform.

Flexibility: Muscle stretching can significantly increase a person’s flexibility. A flexible body promotes good overall health, and is vitally important when participating in many, many types of sports and other physical activities. For athletes, a flexible body can help prevent injuries, increase performance, and simply allow the athlete to do whatever activity they are attempting to do. For non-athletes, the flexibility gained through stretching can significantly increase a person’s quality of life. A flexible body can make normal things we do like getting up off the floor much easier. Have you ever seen a person with poor flexibility try to get up from the floor? It can be quite a struggle. Having a flexible body can make a multitude of things easier to do such as; getting in and out of a car, tying a pair of shoes, getting dressed, completing household chores, etc. As we get older we begin losing our flexibility. Routine stretching of the muscles won’t keep us from aging, but it can make the aging process much less painful. The benefits of a flexible body gained through stretching are vast, and most certainly have a positive effect on a person’s quality of life.

Range of Motion: Muscle stretching also helps increase the body’s range of motion. When people are recovering from surgeries, physical therapists often provide the patient with a list of muscle stretching exercises to regain the lost range of motion. For those that have simply lost their range of motion through years of neglecting their bodies, stretching can help regain much of it back.

Mental Benefits: Stretching the muscles can also benefit a person’s mental wellbeing. One way attain this benefit is to find a quiet place, stretch the muscles slowly, and focus on the muscles that are being stretched. This seemingly boring activity can give your mind a much needed break from the daily stressors most of us face. Another option is to do the same thing, but incorporate soft background music while stretching the muscles. Also, muscle stretching can help loosen the muscles to relieve stress brought on by tight muscles. Another way muscle stretching can benefit a person’s mental wellbeing is through increased confidence. When people experience an improved state of health, they generally have more confidence in themselves.