By Harvey Leon
www.ezinarticles.com
Ever wonder what does stretching do and why is it important? Do you stretch before working out? Health experts recommend stretching each major muscle group at least twice a week for 60 seconds. If you exercise regularly, you should do it more often. Stretching helps you stay flexible and prevent injuries. It also prepares your muscles for a challenging workout. By stretching before working out, you’ll move better and relax tense muscles.
What Happens When You Stretch Your Muscles?
Stretching is important for everyone, especially for athletes, runners, and bodybuilders. This basic activity prepares your muscles and joints for the strain that is about to come. It increases your flexibility and strength, improves circulation, and lowers the risk of injury. Regular stretching is just as important as exercise.
This training method involves stretching a specific muscle or tendon in order to increase its flexibility and range of motion. It’s also a good way to relieve cramps and back pain. When practiced regularly, it can help you achieve comfortable muscle tone and improve joint mobility. Compared to other forms of exercise, stretching is a natural activity that occurs instinctively.
Research indicates that stretching exercises can improve athletic performance, relieve muscle stiffness, and increase length and/or flexibility of muscle tissue. They may also increase your range of motion after a single bout of stretching, which helps prevent overuse or acute sports injuries. Many runners claim that stretching reduces soreness and muscle tears.