Stretching - Do You & Are You Being Safe?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
How many of you stretch? Do you do it before your workout, after your workout, after warm-up... when??? Personally, I have been stretching ever since I started working out. It has been a staple for me.
I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT just to keep my body working & injury free as I get older. You will feel how joints & muscles tighten up much quicker the older you get & it then becomes easier to hurt yourself doing just every day activities like carrying groceries, lifting kids or grandkids, taking out the garbage, vacuuming and many more every day activities!
And let me tell you, the older you get, the more important stretching becomes to you and your body! I was very very very flexible in my youth. I was great at gymnastics, could do the splits, front & back walkovers & more. I can still do the splits BUT it takes about 15-20 minutes at least of my body being warmed up in some form before I even try them! For me, I do some ab/core work at home later in the day & that gets me sweating pretty good. I usually do another stretch routine (separate from my one at the gym & a longer one at home) after the ab/core work which includes my splits.
In the gym, I always do my stretching AFTER my complete workout. Well, turns out I am doing a good thing per the latest research by ACE, American Council on Exercise. Course, I don't do any static stretching before being warmed up... yikes, my muscles would pop/snap! ACE also discourages stretching after your warm up per the video HERE if you plan to go on and do a full workout after the warm up. They also offer up some dynamic stretching to do prior to a workout.
Again, watch the video HERE. I will say that in that walking part where the ACE trainer is kicking her leg straight out, I would be careful in terms of how high you kick. Trying to kick like you are totally warmed up may create issues in terms of "popping" a hamstring muscle or some other muscle or hurting your back. USE CORRECT FORM! DO NOT HUNCH OVER! Just be careful!
Roy, your input is always appreciated!!!
So, do you stretch & have you been using the old school way of stretching? When do you stretch?
DON'T FORGET: For those that love your Dr. J fix, the CalorieLab site is having major issues. If you have been trying to read Dr. J & can't get to him, he is hoping that the CalorieLab group will fix this soon. Hang in there! Dr. J will be "visiting me" next week so you have that to look forward to!!!
Reminding you again the 2010 Team Sarcoma Initiative post. The full week is: July 17-25, 2010. The Facebook event can be joined HERE! Thank you!
How many of you stretch? Do you do it before your workout, after your workout, after warm-up... when??? Personally, I have been stretching ever since I started working out. It has been a staple for me.
I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT just to keep my body working & injury free as I get older. You will feel how joints & muscles tighten up much quicker the older you get & it then becomes easier to hurt yourself doing just every day activities like carrying groceries, lifting kids or grandkids, taking out the garbage, vacuuming and many more every day activities!
And let me tell you, the older you get, the more important stretching becomes to you and your body! I was very very very flexible in my youth. I was great at gymnastics, could do the splits, front & back walkovers & more. I can still do the splits BUT it takes about 15-20 minutes at least of my body being warmed up in some form before I even try them! For me, I do some ab/core work at home later in the day & that gets me sweating pretty good. I usually do another stretch routine (separate from my one at the gym & a longer one at home) after the ab/core work which includes my splits.
In the gym, I always do my stretching AFTER my complete workout. Well, turns out I am doing a good thing per the latest research by ACE, American Council on Exercise. Course, I don't do any static stretching before being warmed up... yikes, my muscles would pop/snap! ACE also discourages stretching after your warm up per the video HERE if you plan to go on and do a full workout after the warm up. They also offer up some dynamic stretching to do prior to a workout.
Again, watch the video HERE. I will say that in that walking part where the ACE trainer is kicking her leg straight out, I would be careful in terms of how high you kick. Trying to kick like you are totally warmed up may create issues in terms of "popping" a hamstring muscle or some other muscle or hurting your back. USE CORRECT FORM! DO NOT HUNCH OVER! Just be careful!
Roy, your input is always appreciated!!!
So, do you stretch & have you been using the old school way of stretching? When do you stretch?
DON'T FORGET: For those that love your Dr. J fix, the CalorieLab site is having major issues. If you have been trying to read Dr. J & can't get to him, he is hoping that the CalorieLab group will fix this soon. Hang in there! Dr. J will be "visiting me" next week so you have that to look forward to!!!
Reminding you again the 2010 Team Sarcoma Initiative post. The full week is: July 17-25, 2010. The Facebook event can be joined HERE! Thank you!
Posted by truth2beingfit at 7/21/2010 9:00 PM 
Categories: Fitness, Health, Workouts, Tips, Exercise
Tags: ACE flexibility fitness stretching workouts health Tips American Council on Exercise
Categories: Fitness, Health, Workouts, Tips, Exercise
Tags: ACE flexibility fitness stretching workouts health Tips American Council on Exercise
This is a great reminder. I have been stretching much more since I got my first running injury this spring. It definitely helps my hip to stretch before and after working out.
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I have to be honest here, I don't stretch like I need to. My joint flexibility routine has helped, but there are still days I don't stretch. Interestingly enough, I know it when I don't stretch, and usually wish I did. Not very smart.
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I stretch after I workout, but just enough to be safe. I am very inflexible, always have been. In January I started yoga to help with that and I think it was great for the whole lack of flexibility thing but I had to stop when I had my injury. I hope to get back into it when my summer traveling is over and I can return to a routing. I think so many people, like me, focus on the other pieces: cardio and strength. Balance is another piece we should add in as we age.
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I do dynamic warm ups before I train...which are basically body weight movements of the lifts I'm about to perform. I also stretch after I train...it's a great way to cool down and elongate muscles I've just worked.
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Okay, I respond not as a fitness trainer, but as a person who is educated in exercise science and physiology.
Hands down, there is no larger debate, and no more conflicting information in the arena of fitness than when, or if to stretch.
Straight up, there is a lot of agenda out there when it comes to this topic, and NOBODY really knows. I believe there is no more of a right answer than there is a wrong answer here.
I am always quick to remind people who practice strength training (weights), that strength training, practiced through a full range of motion, IS stretching -- it is just stretching which is done with weights in your hands or at the ends of your feet. Yoga as well. Most yoga postures involve (are) sretching!!!
I have a stretch routine that I practice each morning which involves every muscle in my body. I Practice this in the shower, under warm water where muscle become softer and more pliable.
What matters most, in my opinion, is not when or how a person stretches. What matters most is THAT a person stretches.
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I've read all the conflicting arguments and in the end I do what feels right for my body. Also, it's the way Trainer Kevin had me train, and I like it.
And then I close the workout with stretches on the mat. It's a great way to cool down and catch my breath, and I always feel like a satisfied cat, stretching in a sunny window.
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I'm a new reader and am loving you. I'm 60 yrs old and just starting back into getting fit again. I work out at the gym and I do some easy stretches (no bouncing) before I do cardio to loosen up and then again more stretching after my workout. This keeps me from cramping during my workout and getting quite so sore. I find as I get older that I need the stretching and also it's a time to cool down.
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Thx so much for visiting! Congrats on getting back to it. We can do our best at any age!!!! Yes, I was super flexible as a youth & into even my late 30's to 40ish & then all hell broke loose!
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Sometimes I think I can get away without stetching but my body screams at me when I do...TY for the great reminder!So important
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An excellent reminder Jody. My co-workers and I always told our clients that stretching was as important as their workouts. Keeping flexible keeps the body young. I'm pretty sure we don't have to worry about you becoming a hunched over little old lady with creaky joints, but a lot of people don't realize how valuable stretching is to keep the body in proper alignment.
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There are not enough hours in a year to warm me up to do a full split! That is not to say I didn't try, and I have the repetitive muscle pulls to prove it!
I hate to stretch! I have done countless hours of it, and do not like it. I used to stretch before karate, now I stretch as I practice. That way, at least, if I get injured I get some practice in before hand
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