Real reasons why you must STRETCH?
When you stretch, your muscle lengthens. Muscle lengthening provides greater range of motion (ROM), which is important to individuals who have decreased ROM due to injury, a sedentary lifestyle or aging. Increased flexibility will also decrease our chances of injury and helps to enhance sports performance.
A well-stretched muscle helps you in the process of recovery after exercise, ridding you of excessive muscle soreness. It also decreases your risk of injury as your muscle and surrounding areas of the muscles become supple and flexible.
When you stretch, your muscle lengthens. Muscle lengthening provides greater range of motion (ROM), which is important to individuals who have decreased ROM due to injury, a sedentary lifestyle or aging. Increased flexibility will also decrease our chances of injury and helps to enhance sports performance.
A well-stretched muscle helps you in the process of recovery after exercise, ridding you of excessive muscle soreness. It also decreases your risk of injury as your muscle and surrounding areas of the muscles become supple and flexible.
Perform Full Body 12 stretches at least 2 times per day, breathing gently throughout. Do not hold your breath while stretching. |
The 12 Stretches is part of the scientific research
by Dr Dee Dee, as covered in this media coverage
|
MORE Benefits of Stretching
- increases flexibility,
- for rehabilitation,
- for rehabilitation,
- increases circulation - blood flow to the muscle increases after a long stretch
- stimulates digestion,
- balances hormones
- releases endorphins, brain chemicals i.e. "feel-good neurotransmitters."
- improves posture
- calms the nervous system
- for good health
- for sports performance
Myths about stretchings
- for good health
- for sports performance
Myths about stretchings
- Stretch before or after exercise/sports?
Never stretch a muscle cold. Stretch your body when it is warm.
Break a sweat first with 5 minutes light dance around the house or 5 minutes of walking briskly or light jogging, is a sufficient warm-up for stretching.
It is safer to stretch warm muscles. Warm muscles are more relaxed and supple.
- Bouncing stretches?
Bouncing stretches are the in-thing in the Jane Fonda era. But fast forward to many scientific researches on stretches of today, NEVER bounce your stretch as it triggers the stretch reflex, which might result in a snap, which in turn will injure the muscles and tendons. It will also tend to cause muscle spasm.
The Science of Stretch Reflex
The golgi tendon organ is a proprioceptor - a sensory organ that receives information from the tendon, that senses TENSION. If there is too much muscle tension the golgi tendon organ will inhibit the muscle from creating any force (via a reflex arc), thus protecting you from injuring itself.
- When do you stretch?
You can hold the stretch as STATIC STRETCH after your cooldowns.
Or you can move the stretch rhythmically as DYNAMIC STRETCH (normally seen in pre aerobics exercises) in your warm ups.
Dynamic stretchings has been shown to help prepare your muscles and is seen as your preparation to use the same muscles for your main segment of exercise. This may also help improve your performance in an sports or exercise.
In short, you will stretch a few minutes into AND after your workout.
Stretch your muscle until you feel tension
Hold stretch for 20 to 60 seconds.
This is the safest way to stretch.
Do it gently allowing muscles and connective tissue time to “reset” the stretch reflex.
- You should feel discomfort NOT pain during stretchings
Move into a stretch, and stop when you feel tension. Breathe deeply and gently while you hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. Then relax. When you repeat the stretch, try moving a little bit further into the stretch during the second stretch.
- when you are stressed...endorphins help!
- at the end of a hard day's work
- before you go to bed, to relax your body for sleep
- for efficient rehab
- for sports performance enhancement
- Time to stretch?
- when you are stressed...endorphins help!
- at the end of a hard day's work
- before you go to bed, to relax your body for sleep
- for efficient rehab
- for sports performance enhancement
Yours always in good health and happiness,
Dr Dee Dee
Dr Dee Dee Mahmood (PhD), is the Regional Head, Regional Alumni Ambassador Network and Associate Senior Lecturer at Edith Cowan University Australia. This multi award winning TEDx Speaker, Celebrity Exercise Physiologist, Nutritionist and Talk Show Host is much celebrated for her numerous community health initiatives signature programs : Fat2Fit Asia and Walking Football for Health. She conducts synergy on community and corporate health and research collaborations internationally.
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Click here for more articles, media coverages, profile and talk shows links:
deedeefitness.com.
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