6 Stretches for a Lean, Limber Body
I Like This! (15)
Pages in this Story:
- Stretch for Greater Flexibility
- 1. Active Pigeon
- 2. C-Curve
- 3. Modified Cobra
- 4. Hamstring Stretch Series
- 5. Split Squat
- 6. Quadrupeds
- The Best Time to Stretch
- The Forgotten Area You Must Work
The Best Time to Stretch
Question: "What's the best time to stretch -- before or after a workout?"
Answer: "Some studies have shown that stretching right before exercise can actually hamper performance," says Mike Bracko, EdD, director of the Institute for Hockey Research in Calgary, Alberta, and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.
One Theory: When you stretch, protein filaments in the muscles expand, then stay elongated for a short time, making the muscle weaker for about 10 to 15 minutes. Better? Warm up to increase blood flow, then stretch post-workout, when your muscles are more flexible.
