The Importance of Stretching Out after Exercise
Stretching is something most of us forget about, but is one of the most important parts of your workout. You finish a workout and head straight for the door, get in your car and go home, but your workout shouldn’t be finished until you spend just 5 to 10 minutes stretching out.
I’m sure there has been some time or another where you have experienced discomfort in the muscles and unable to move as much as you would like, this is mainly due to you not stretching. Not stretching those muscles can lead to them becoming tense, tight, and possibly strained. Think back to a time this has happened to you and as a result of this you have not returned to a class or gone back to the gym due to the discomfort experienced. Stretching after a workout is essential!!
Stretching after working out is shown to be best. There is no evidence that stretching before your workout is beneficial and can even lead to injury. But post workout is completely different!
Stretching After Working Out Benefits:
- Induce muscle building potential (recent research shows that stretching increases the muscle building process your body goes through).
- Reduce Stress
- Reduce Post workout soreness
- Improve range of motion
- Improve circulation/blood flow to muscles
- Increase flexibility
Not stretching out after exercise can possibly lead to injuries. The most common sports injuries are:
- Sprains and strains
- Knee injuries
- Swollen muscles
- Achilles tendon injuries
- Pain along the shin bone
- Fractures
- Dislocations.
So remember stretching only takes 5 to 10 minutes at the end of your workout. If you’ve spent that time on a great cardiovascular and/or strength training workout, then whats just a few more minutes if it gives you bigger, better results!
ALWAYS Stretch Out!!