When should I stretch?

A quick note this blog refers to stretching for athletic purposes. There are many different types of stretching. If you want to know if it applies to the type of stretching that you are doing email us and ask 🙂

 

Stretching.. it’s what’s good for you! At least that’s what we tend to think, and some people think more is better. Well stretching is good for you. It helps with muscle elasticity and blood flow, but there is a right way and a wrong way and a right and wrong time to stretch. First cold stretching (stretching before you warm up) is out and a bad idea! The reason is that you stretch which elongates your muscles and then you warm up with makes them even longer because they are now warm, and this results in instability in the area. Instability leads to injuries! So a light warm up before you stretch is a must. It just needs to be enough to get a light sweat going. Bouncing when you stretch is another. A lot of people tend to bounce when they stretch going slightly deeper each time. This is bad bad bad! You are putting little tears in your muscles when you stretch. This is good because it helps the muscles get longer thus adding flexibility. But when you bounce you are forcing those tears to be longer and wider then they would normally, that is bad! So no stretching cold and no bouncing! Also a good idea is to have someone who knows what they are doing evaluate your stretches. You would be surprised the damage you can do by being just a little off!

 

Dr. John

New Life Chiropractic, Cape Girardeau, Ca