Read 31 times since Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Stretching is a very important part of fitness: it decreases the likelihood of having an activity-based injury, it pumps up performance, and it actually makes you all around stronger and healthier. So what is there to know about proper stretching?
For a long time everybody has attested that stretching should be performed before each and every single fitness activity; this is actually not correct. According to mayo clinic, some website produced and run by doctors, the best time to stretch is after the exercise.
Furthermore, stretching before a hard sprint or exercise of high intensity may actually inhibit performance slightly. So when should you stretch?
After any hard exercises it is important to stretch so that your body can strain the lactic acid from the muscles, stretching will also help to even out the workout. There are two ways to build muscle one is through contraction and the other is through abduction or stretching as it is more commonly referred to.
The muscles are just being torn when you are exercising whether you are contracting or stretching, but when you work both ways you are able to encompass a wider area of muscle and actually elongate the muscles you have. Strength training is going to make the muscles much stronger, but stretching is going to give them shape.
Interesting how that works. Surely you have seen the bulky muscle men that make up the bodybuilding competition.
These men have inflated their muscles to such a point that conventional muscle use is just not an option anymore. On the other hand, look at professional gymnasts, they have incorporated years of stretching with their strength training and they can actually perform stunts that boggle the mind.
So you have to ask yourself, do you want to be a pumped up hot air balloon or would you rather be an impressive artist who expresses their soul by way of physical activity? The obvious answer should be B, the latter option, but of course many people will not decide that path for themselves.
Start exercising for fitness and conventional use of the muscles. Stretch besides making your muscles look great is also going to cleanse the body and oxygenate muscles, and do a slew of other things that will promote holistic health.
If you are not working your body in every way you can then you may need to be shaken. There is no reason not to stretch; the slight effort required accompanies immense benefit. Destry Masterson is an author who has written hundreds of articles. She publishes articles for http://www.nordictrack.com and recommends them for treadmills.
Contact Info:
Destry Masterson - MyOnlineArticleWriting@gmail.com - Twitter: @DestryMasterson
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