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Stretching: What is the Truth?
It used to be a given in any workout – stretch first, exercise, stretch again. However, this habit has become a controversial topic with researchers and fitness experts. Most parties agree that including stretching in your fitness routine is important in building flexibility, strength, and mobility. The disagreement lies in when to stretch – before a workout, after, or both?
Some say it is essential to stretch before exercising or competing in a sport to prevent injury, while others say you could do more harm than good by stretching a “cold” muscle. The most agreed-upon solution is to first warm up the muscles you’ll use during your workout.
For instance, if you’re going to run, take a brisk walk to warm up your leg muscles. If you’ve properly warmed up, many trainers say you can skip the pre-workout stretch and instead focus on stretching after you’ve exercised – when your muscles are at their most flexible.
Whether you stretch before or after, remember that staying active is an important part of staying healthy – in fact, regular exercise can help lower your risk of cancer and other diseases. The American Cancer Society recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity, above usual activities, on five or more days of the week.
*provided by the American Cancer society