Stretching involves straightening the body to elongate the muscles. There are many types of stretches, including, static, dynamic, active, ballistic, and PNF stretches.
So, why should you stretch after working out?
1. Minimized Muscle Soreness
When a person does intense exercises, their muscles will contract and shorten, leaving them stiff. This increases tension and discomfort. Static stretching helps reduce soreness and muscle cramp severity.
2. Increased Endorphin Production
Stretching helps to slow down the body's cooling process after a workout which leaves a person energized. Also, performing a physical activity like stretching increases endorphin production which raises the mood, increases confidence, and has a calming effect.
3. Improved Posture
Stretching the back, chest, shoulders, and legs is great to sit or stand up straighter, and enhance alignment. Including stretches such as a child's pose, wall angels, thoracic spine openers, and chest releases benefits a person's posture.
4. Reduced Back Pain
Muscles usually tighten during a workout, which increases the possibility of lower back pain. Also, muscular tightness decreases movement. Stretching hamstrings regularly heal tight muscles and prevents further back pain.
5. Lactic Acid Elimination
Strength training or other hard exercises produce lactic acid, making the muscles tired. Lactic acid hinders workout performance and increases pain. Stretching dissolves lactic acid causing muscle relaxation.
6. Increased Flexibility
Consistent stretching increases flexibility which helps a person exercise more efficiently. Hamstring stretches, hip flexors, and forward bends add flexibility. Stretching increases muscle elasticity activates Golgi tendons, and elongates the muscles in a process called plastic deformation.
7. Minimized Injury Risks
When a person's muscles are resistant, they restrict movement which increases the possibility of getting hurt when exercising. Static stretching after a workout enables the muscles to recuperate. Also, stretching returns equilibrium and resets the body after the stress of exercising.
8. Boosted Blood Flow
Stretching, especially foam rolling, improves blood circulation, regulates oxygen, and decreases the heart rate, which shortens the body's recovery time.
9. Lowered Stress
When a person experiences stress or anxiety, muscle tension grows. Symptoms include stiff necks, tight shoulders, and upper back strain. Stretching relaxes the muscles, which provides emotional relief.
10. Toning Muscles
Stretches such as arm pumps, windmills, leg lifts, and lunges tone up the body to give it a slender appearance.
