Tuesday, 11 February 2014

Proper Stretching And The Results Of Full Range Of Motion

By Nick Chow


From the more basic levels of fitness to the more complex, stretching has always been an important factor worth emphasizing. We look to touch on both general stretching, and the types of stretching and how it relates to full range of motion (ROM)

Conventional stretching has always been seen as a preventative measure against injury, however it has been seen and proven that those with a proper stretching routine will net greater muscle thickness along with improved ROM.

The Dynamic Stretches

This type of stretching is ideal prior to your training. The stretches are held for no longer than 10-15 seconds in order to keep the central nervous system from entering into a state of rest. This is typical in static stretches. Dynamic stretching is beneficial to the workout in that it does not have an impact on your overall strength and explosiveness. Adding smaller warm-up style exercises is also ideal to increase your heart rate. This in turn allocates more blood and oxygen to your soft muscle tissues.

Static Stretching

Typically done post-exercise, the purpose is to stretch the muscles while your body is in a state of rest. Contrary to dynamic stretching, it is more ideal to hold a position for any length between 30 seconds to 2 minutes. This aids in the recovery of the muscle as well as leads to additional overall flexibility.

Rolling the Muscle

A newer concept in the realm of preparation and post work out regime. Foam rolling has several benefits into one, it allows the accumulation of lactic acid in muscle to be pushed or drawn away. This can help with soreness along with mobility, as well the roller can be well utilized pre exercise combined with a good dynamic stretch.

Muscle growth is an additional benefit from using the above technique in stretching. The layer on top of the muscles called the fascia that stretches along with the muscle when using a roller. This additional stretching allows for better migration of the blood and oxygen to the muscles which in turn assists in optimal muscle growth and recovery.

Bottom line, whether you are looking to increase your overall range of motion, or to simply avoid injury, it is wise to make sure to include these stretching functions into your regular routine.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment