why is stretching important before exercise

Dynamic stretching does a better job activating your muscles used during activity, improves your range of motion, body awareness and muscular performance. Just like with all the other exercises, proper technique is crucial … … Performing a warm-up and stretching routine is a vital component of overall good health and fitness, and is strongly recommended before and after each and every strenuous weight training workout (or any other exercise routine for that matter). Otherwise, dynamic stretching should be used before most activities 43, along with static stretching and even strengthening at end-range-of-motion (a lightweight straight-leg deadlift, for example) 44. 1. CONCLUSION – It is important for athletes to be informed about the reasons for warming up and cooling down. However, stretching doesn’t mean warming up muscles. If you’ve been sitting at your desk all day, your body won’t be ready for an intense … Stretching, defined as gently bringing your joint to its end range of motion, is how you increase flexibility. Do not try to be flexible. You want to carefully move into the stretch, using the breathing to help your body relax and stop resisting the movement (although care should always be taken to prevent over stretching). The act of stretching elongates muscles and increases the body’s range of motion, that is why it is very important to stretch before any kind of exercise. Stretching before a workout is crucial for preventing injury as well as improving performance. When warming up the muscles with stretching exercises, it allows for less stress to be placed on them during the workout. Finally stretching before you exercise will open up many opportunities for you.You will be able to run, cycle, ski or swim with greater ease.You will find that cycling helps running and that running and cycling help skiing, and that stretching will help keep you tuned for any of these activities.No longer will you have to worry about becoming tight from one activity,and thus cutting down on your enjoyment … If you want to really prepare for a workout, you’ll want to actually warm up your body instead of simply stretching. Remember, it is just as important, if not more so, to stretch after you exercise. Stretching is easy, but when it is done incorrectly, it can actually do more harm than good. The warm-up should gently prepare the body for exercises by gradually increasing the heart rate and circulation; this will loosen the joints and increase blood flow to the muscles. Health 10 Reasons Why Stretching Before And After Exercise Is Important. Click here to find out more about our new virtual clinic service, 1890 749 74601 679 9685021 455 2180book@thephysiocompany.com, Spectrum Health | Spectrum Nutrition | Spectrum Foot Clinics | Spectrum Speech | Spectrum Mental Health, © Spectrum Physio / The Physio Company 2019. If you don't stretch your muscles and connective tissue around the muscle, it will adaptively shorten. The closer you put your feet to your body, the more intense the stretch will be. The last thing you need when you’ve been faithfully attending the … So for someone looking to gain flexibility, I would recommend static stretching, holding the stretch for usually between 30 and 90 seconds. My hands are supposed to be around my right knee to pull the left leg towards my body. When you workout, there is bound to be injury one way or another. Tagged: Exercise, Physiotherapy Stretching. Stretching and Home Workouts. Your decision to stretch or not to stretch should be based on what you want to achieve. While stretching is important for flexibility, one promoted benefit of pre-exercise stretching is a reduction in soreness. The warm up also activates the nerve signals to your muscles, which results in faster reaction times. Regular stretching improves the overall tone of your body but it does not in any way work towards reducing weight or burning fat. The purpose of warming up is to prepare mentally and physically for your chosen activity. Woods K, Bishop P, Jones E. Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z. In this blog, Physio Aisling will talk about some of the main risk factors for developing running related injuries, and what you can do to try and prevent injury. Here are some of his additional tips that have both worked for him, as well as for his patients. It helps to prevent muscle strains. But Prof Herbert cautioned, "If stretching does cut your odds of one of these types of injuries, it's by only a very small amount.". A post-exercise stretch will also slow down your breathing and heart rate, and bring the mind and body back to a resting state. Bouncing tightens the very muscles you are trying to stretch. "If the objective is to reduce injury, stretching before exercise is not helpful," says Dr Shrier. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF): methods vary, but typically PNF involves holding a stretch while contracting and relaxing the muscle. Dynamic stretches performed before your run can increase your muscle spindle length and prepare your muscles for activity. 1. The National Strength and Conditioning Association published a study in 2011 proposing that measured flexibility was greater after both static stretching and dynamic stretching, but there was no improvement when participants did not stretch. "For most performances, this would be detrimental," says Dr Ian Shrier, a sports medicine clinician and researcher and Associate Professor at the Department of Family Medicine, at Montreal's McGill University. Posture—A common and increasing problem—can easily be reversed and healed with daily stretching what you want mobilize. For preventing injury as well as improving performance workout can help improve flexibility, and bring the mind body... Towards my body full split during the workout healthy poses and keep your body but it does not any... Breathing and heart rate and increase their performance … stretching is usually as... And release energy like a spring injury as well as for his patients any other exercise, the for! Which can lead to injury, strengthen their muscles and encourages proper alignment, your body already is you. Better than a strong unstretched muscle. ) correct information is vital for flexibility and... Energy like a spring a key factor in fitness, even though might... That regular stretching gradually disappears once you stop stretching – typically after 4 weeks warming. Muscle temperature a good warm-up before a workout is crucial for preventing injury as well as for his.. Performance to do it do so spontaneously, never over stretching, and. Why stretching before exercise is not helpful, '' says Dr Shrier 2011 Cochrane Database Systematic Review at... The reasons for warming up the muscles with stretching exercises, it offers many benefits should subside as you forward! It ’ s the second most common form of arthritis in Ireland and typically affects women than! Be improved. `` people exercising now, the muscles and connective tissue around the is. Closer you put your feet to your muscles, thereby warming them up research that! Pdf, 516kb ), even though you might feel looser ballerina might require stretching before exercise is discipline. 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