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Why You Should Be Stretching Before And After Every Single Workout

By: Dane Fletcher

Your ability to be flexible is one of the most important success factors that you can bring into a training program. Flexibility will help you become more agile, less suspect to injury, have increased levels of performance, and also diversify the range of motions that you can accomplish. There are guidelines that can be followed for better success in stretching.

The effectiveness of static stretching. Static stretching is achieved by letting the muscle get elongated to its furthest point, (there should be no discomfort felt), and letting the body retain this position for about 20-30 seconds.

The more seasoned athletes will tell you that stretches are best done before and after a training workout. This helps in reducing chances of muscular imbalance, muscle soreness, tightness and knots. There is however no set limit as to how much you are supposed to stretch on a daily basis.

Ensure that you are warmed up before you stretch. It is often hazardous when you try to stretch a cold muscle. The best thing to do is to get the blood circulating through the intended muscle group by first performing a light and rhythmic warm up. Such a warm up can last for between 5-10 minutes and should be targeted at the large muscle groups. Once the muscle is warm enough it will become much more pliable and will be effectively stretched out.

Be sure to stretch before & after exercise. If you stretch out before starting the exercise your muscles will improve in terms of being more dynamic, flexible and being more resistant to injury. The benefits if stretching after the workout are also very important.

The muscles will benefit from an improved circulation of blood and thus nutrients, they will be adequately prepared for the resting period, the flushing out of unwanted wastes will be expedited and in effect the muscles will be optimally relaxed. As muscles are stretched after a workout the chances of soreness or stiffness will be greatly reduced.

Stretching in between weightlifting. It is a fact that in between weightlifting sets the body needs to be relaxed before it is summoned to begin a fresh set. This can be the best time to stretch a given muscle group if optimal gains such as which are described above are to be enjoyed.

Doing so will mean that you are preparing the specific muscle group by relaxing it adequately before you take it to fatigue once more. The muscles will be prudently prepared in terms of being warm and pliable enough. Their ability to handle increased overload will also be optimized.

Stretching before & after cardio workouts. If you are not involved in weight training on a certain day and just require doing some cardio workouts then stretching the muscles will do you good. The best way to do this is to get a 5-10 minute warm up then stretching out the muscle groups that you will use.

Proceed to the cardio workout and do this for 25 minutes or so and then break off to cool for ten minutes. While the muscles are still warm, stretch them out again especially with the static method. You will find out that the routine will become more effective as blood circulates through the muscle groups.

Article Source: http://www.bluearticles.com


Dane Fletcher is the world-wide authority on bodybuilding and steroids. He has coached countless athletes all over the world. To read more of his work, please visit either http://www.BodybuildingToday.com or http://www.SteroidsToday.com

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