Stretch!

In the health and wellness industry, the perfect trio is sleep, diet and exercise. While all of these are crucial, stretching and yoga act as support to all three of those health factors, and is thus a vital way to recover.

Stretching after exercise has been proven to increase power, speed and reduce risk of injury. The purpose of stretching is to lengthen the muscles, which increases muscle flexibility, and joint range of motion. This allows the body to move more freely and with ease. While frequently used to prevent injury risk, stretching is also used as a rehabilitation method. Stretching increases blood flow to the injured muscles and speeds up the recovery process without exerting extensive strain on the body. The improved circulation that comes with the blood flow acts as a way to decrease pain, decrease risk of injury and decrease muscle soreness. Frequent stretching can lead to better body proprioception, which will eventually increase posture and coordination.

The goal of stretching is to lengthen the muscles, which decreases risk of tears or serious wear. Muscles begin to lengthen after as stretch is held for at least 30 seconds. During stretching, it is very important to stay static, as bouncing, swaying or movement could cause small tears in the muscles, increasing injury risk.

            Dynamic stretching, which is a different kind of stretching, uses constant movement to eliminate the risk of muscle tears, and also decrease scar tissue over the long term. By using dynamic movements, your heart rate – and thus circulation – rises, and the muscles begin to warm up. Having warm muscles makes for a better athlete and body that is better prepared for possible injury.