4 - How to Stretch
Description
This article is from the Stretching FAQ, by Brad Appleton Brad_Appleton@ivhs.mot.com with numerous contributions by others.
4 - How to Stretch
When done properly, stretching can do more than just increase flexibility.
According to M. Alter, benefits of stretching include:
* enhanced physical fitness
* enhanced ability to learn and perform skilled movements
* increased mental and physical relaxation
* enhanced development of body awareness
* reduced risk of injury to joints, muscles, and tendons
* reduced muscular soreness
* reduced muscular tension
* increased suppleness due to stimulation of the production of chemicals
which lubricate connective tissues (See "1.3 - Connective Tissue")
* reduced severity of painful menstruation ("dysmenorrhea") in females
Unfortunately, even those who stretch do not always stretch properly and
hence do not reap some or all of these benefits. Some of the most common
mistakes made when stretching are:
* improper warm-up
* inadequate rest between workouts
* overstretching
* performing the wrong exercises
* performing exercises in the wrong (or sub-optimal) sequence
In this chapter, we will try to show you how to avoid these problems, and
others, and present some of the most effective methods for realizing all
the benefits of stretching.
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