The importance of stretching

Are you focusing only on muscle building or achieving aerobic fitness ? Think again! You need to think about flexibility too.Stretching can help.

You may think of stretching as something performed only by runners or gymnasts. But we all need to stretch in order to protect our mobility and independence. “A lot of people don’t understand that stretching has to happen on a regular basis. It should be daily,” says Kritika Chatterjee, a Fitness Coach at Fittr.

Stretching

Stretching refers to a practice of elongating a muscle or muscle group to its fullest length. Though we may not realize it, stretching is actually a natural, instinctive behavior. Upon waking, most of us will instinctively reach our arms overhead and stretch from fingers to toes. Our body naturally craves a “stretch” after long periods of sitting or inactivity. This natural instinct is your body’s way of telling you that stretching is good.

Why stretching is important

Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints. Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. Then, when you call on the muscles for activity, they are weak and unable to extend all the way. That puts you at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage.

For example, sitting in a chair all day results in tight hamstrings in the back of the thigh. That can make it harder to extend your leg or straighten your knee all the way, which inhibits walking. Likewise, when tight muscles are suddenly called on for a strenuous activity that stretches them, such as playing tennis, they may become damaged from suddenly being stretched. Injured muscles may not be strong enough to support the joints, which can lead to joint injury.

Benefits of Stretching

Stretching offers numerous health and fitness benefits:

• Relaxation: Put simply, stretching feels good. It’s an excellent way to cool down and relax after an invigorating workout. Furthermore, research has shown that stretching can lower blood pressure and improve artery function. It’s a natural stress reliever.
• Increase flexibility: Flexibility refers to the degree to which an individual muscle will lengthen. As we age, our muscles grow shorter and tighter and we become less flexible. As a result, we become more susceptible to injuries. Stretching is an effective way to maintain and increase flexibility. A regular stretching routine will keep you flexible—and hopefully, injury-free.
• Improve circulation: Stretching increases the blood flow to the muscles, which not only helps to nourish the muscles, but also helps to eliminate waste byproducts from muscle tissue.
• Eliminate pain: Many of us experience muscle tightness in our quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip flexors. What we may not realize is that this muscle tightness is a common cause of low back pain. Short, tight muscles result in impaired movement patterns and compensation, which leads to low back pain. A regular stretching routine can help solve this common problem.

How and When Should I Stretch?

Stretching regimens should be performed at least three times per week, as well as before and after any games or practices. Be sure to warm the muscles up for 5-10 minutes before you begin stretching. A warm-up consists of a light version of exercise to relax and loosen the muscles, such as shooting a few baskets. The goal is to increase blood flow to the muscles and tendons. (You won’t need to do this after your workout because the muscles are already loose.)

Hold stretches gently for 20 to 45 seconds, repeating each stretch 2-3 times for any muscle groups you are loosening up. Pain should not be a part of stretching. It takes time for muscles to tighten up, so take your time during stretching to achieve maximum benefit.

Dynamic and Static Stretching (Warm-Up Vs. Cool-Down)

Dynamic stretches are best utilized before your workout or game. These controlled movements prepare the muscles and other soft tissues for the upcoming activity by increasing muscle temperature and decreasing stiffness.

Dynamic stretches include:

• Walking lunge: With hands on hips, step and lunge without allowing the knee to pass over the ankle
• Torso twist: Gentle twisting with feet shoulder width apart and arms at your side bent at a 90° angle
• Leg swing: Front to back slowly through the full range of motion

Static stretching involves moving the muscle to the extent of its range of motion. Although static stretching increases flexibility and thus, decreases the risk of injury, it should be performed after a workout/activity or as a part of your stretching maintenance routine. This is because performing these types of stretches before a strenuous workout can limit the muscles’ ability to react quickly.

Static stretches include:

• Hamstring stretch: With your back flat and knee straight (not locked), extend your leg and lean forward to feel the stretch in the back of the leg
• Quadriceps stretch: Holding your ankle, pull the leg back toward the buttock to stretch the front of the thigh.
• Posterior capsule stretch: Holding your opposite arm just above the elbow, pull the arm across the body to stretch the shoulder.

During any stretching routine, be sure to engage your abdominal muscles to protect your back.

Stretching Tips

In order to gain the benefits of stretching, it’s important to stretch properly:

• Warm up. Never stretch a cold muscle; it can result in injury. Instead, warm up with some cardiovascular activity prior to stretching. This will help make your muscles more pliable and conducive to stretching.
• Breathe. Sometimes we’re inclined to hold our breath when stretching, but this is counterproductive because it results in tightness and resistance. Instead, breathe into a stretch. Breathe slowly and deeply. As you exhale, you may feel yourself naturally sink a little deeper into the stretch.
• Be gentle. Never force a stretch. Instead, gently ease your way into a stretch and let your body dictate how far you can go. Flexibility will naturally increase over time—forcing a stretch will only result in injury, not increased flexibility.
• Be consistent. The best way to build flexibility is with a consistent stretching routine. Aim for 3 to 5 days per week. If you commit to a stretching program, you will see results.

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References :

1.https://www.osmifw.com/the-importance-of-stretching/

2.https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-importance-of-stretching#:~:text=Stretching%20keeps%20the%20muscles%20flexible,to%20extend%20all%20the%20way.

Author:

Kritika Chatterjee

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