How do you kick start your workout, is it your BCAA that you take before heading to the gym or gulping a mug full of black coffee? It doesn’t matter what you gulp in before your workout session, but one thing that matters a lot is whether we stretch or not.
Usually, it happens, people don’t stretch their body prior to exercise. Considering stretching as the not-so-necessary thing to do, people head to strength training corner of the gym, lifting heavyweights. Such reckless behavior of some rooky gym-goers, lead them to have some injuries like shoulder dislocation, hamstrings stretch, and others.
In an effort to educate such people, who don’t consider stretching as the most important things to do before a workout, we have enlisted some of its benefits:
Boost up your range of motion:
Just like any other machinery part, if you don’t move their part for long term of the period, it might be possible, that the spare part can become cranky and get rust all over its adjoining parts making it immovable. Well, taking the instance of the machinery, if we don’t move our parts of body joints for a longer period of time, the same cranky and immobility can engulf our joints and which can cause immense pain if not treated.
The best way to avoid all these body joints movement problems is to maintain their flexibility by doing some stretching. To be precise, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is found to be quite effective in increasing your range of motion. PNF stretching is a technique that uses your natural reflexes to give you a deeper stretch. Consult a physical therapist if you would like to explore PNF.
Improving Performance
Talking about the sports, doing an active warm-up is considered to be a great thing to practice. In such practice, dynamic stretching proves to be very useful. According to a study published in the ‘Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research’ highlights that instead of static stretches, dynamic stretches can boost overall performance by improving flexibility, speed, endurance, etc. While doing dynamic stretching, you don’t need to hold a position for long rather you need to keep your muscle moving in an identical motion to that sport you are going to play.
In dynamic stretching, you don’t hold a position for too long, instead, you keep your muscles moving in a similar motion to that of the sport you’re about to play.
Improve Blood circulation
According to a recent study published in ‘The Journal of Physiology’ suggested that passive stretching, if done consistently for 3 months, can help to dilate the arteries and aid in lowering the stiffness in them. This can lead to better blood circulation, which is one of the major factors in the prevention of vascular diseases like strokes, hypertension, and diabetes. Passive stretching is when you remain in one (relaxing) position while your muscles are stretched with the help of a partner, prop, accessory or even a wall.
Help you to relax
Living a sedentary lifestyle and that with loads of work on the desk happens to be the most lethal weapon for billions of working across the world. Such lifestyle is not just enough, to sabotage your fitness goals but also your posture for a longer period of time. Sitting on a chair with a slight hunch can further, deform your posture, muscle and even bone structure. In that case, by inculcating some basic and practical stretching techniques, you can relieve this physical discomfort and stress, which may allow you to rest easier during the night and wake up feeling refreshed.
Helps in Getting Rid Of Chronic Pain
There is a solid reason why stretching has been included in physical therapy interventions for the management of shoulder, knee pain, neck, and back. You must be wondering how stretching can be an effective tool in pain management however, according to a study published in the journal ‘Clinical Rehabilitation’ found that stretching was as effective in reducing pain as a combination of strengthening and stretching over a year of physical therapy.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
