The Facts about Pre-Workout Stretching

It’s been a long-time tradition to stretch before exercising. Though a number of people and institutions keep static stretching alive, it turns out that this practice yields results opposite of its intended purpose.

Stretching your muscles while your body is at rest makes your muscles feel overstretched, causing them to react by tightening up rather than loosening up. Static stretching is done to prevent injury and enhance performance during exercise, but it’s studies have shown that stretching before exercise does not decrease chances of injury but decreases muscle strength. Your muscles need to be warmed up in

order to stretch more easily, so attempting to stretch them while they’re at rest puts more strain and can risk pulling or tearing them. This isn’t to say that stretching should be abandoned altogether. It just isn’t the first thing you should do before beginning exercise.

Increasing the body’s temperature helps prepare your muscles for a workout. Warming up actually loosens your muscles and increases your respiratory rate and blood flow, readying your body for more intense physical activity. Spending 5-10 minutes doing a light aerobic exercise like walking, jogging, bicycling, rope jumping or easy swimming is a good way to accomplish this. With the increased blood flow transporting oxygen and nutrients to your warmed up muscles, stretching is now appropriate.

It’s best to stretch your body out after a workout while your muscles are warmer and easier/safer to stretch. Stretching your muscles out after a workout helps relieve soreness and reduces muscle tension.

Though it's counter-productive before warming up, stretching is still an important part of your exercise routine. It’s necessary for increasing flexibility and helps your blood circulate. Plus, it feels

great to stretch out your muscles after a good workout.

Wishing you a healthy and happy workout from all of us at Element Fitness!

Questions? Email us at: info@elementfitness.net

Wanna know more? Read more!:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36553174/ns/health-fitness/

- Why static stretching is counter productive.

http://stronglifts.com/5-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-do-static-stretches/

- More reasons why static stretching is counter-productive.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/stretching_benefits.asp

- Benefits of stretching.

http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/archives/warm-up.php

- How to warm up.

http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/warm-up-exercises.html

- Warming up and stretching after.