To Stretch or Not to Stretch

Experts used to claim that stretching before a workout can help decrease the risk of injuries; however, more recent research shows that stretching alone can be ineffective for warming up your body. Some research is even proving that pre-workout stretching can be detrimental to athletic performance!


So we should just jump right into the workout, right? Wrong. A warm-up should be designed to move your body in motions similar to the actions you’ll perform during your workout. If you’re going to do an upper body workout, your warm-up should focus on your upper body muscles. A proper warm-up should increase blood flow (get your heart pumping!) as a way to ease into physical activity.


There are different types of stretches that are designed for different parts of your day. Dynamic Stretching is excellent before sports or other exercise. These are movement stretches that take your muscles through their full range of motion. Examples include butt kicks, ladder drills and arm circles. Here are a few to try before your next workout!

 


Static stretches are the "reach and hold" stretches. This type of stretching can be beneficial when you wake up, just before bed, after a workout or to just break up your day! Static stretches are most commonly used to improve your overall flexibility or to help alleviate muscle soreness. These can be conveniently done at your desk!