Stretching is important for a body to be healthy, move well, and feel good. Proper stretching can even help prevent injuries during activities. What stretching techniques are the best to do? The answer to that depends on your specific needs and objectives. Let’s consider a couple different types of stretching techniques as well as when and why we should implement them.

Dynamic Stretching

Warming up is important before participating in a sport or activity that is physically demanding, such as playing a round of pickle ball or working out in a gym. This is where dynamic stretching comes into play. Dynamic stretching mimics the activity or the movements that you’re going to do in whatever sport or activity you’re about to start. These movement patterns can help your muscles get primed for motion a little bit earlier and faster, which can help improve power and increase coordination. Dynamic stretching improves blood flow and circulation, which increases muscle temperature. This in turn leads to increased flexibility and lessened resistance. An example of this is walking to warm up your muscles before running.

Static Stretching

When most people think of stretching, static stretching is typically what comes to mind. To perform a static stretch, you hold a pose while stretching your muscles as far as you can. You remain “static,” so to speak, for typically 60 to 90 seconds. During static stretching, muscles aren’t warmed up like they are when doing dynamic stretching. Therefore, this form of stretching is best applied after physical activity as part of a cooldown process. This is a relaxing form of stretching that encourages flexibility and can reduce muscle tension. An example of static stretching is stretching your hamstrings after a long hike by bending forward at the hips and reaching for your toes.

It’s no stretch to say that both dynamic and static stretching are essential components in preserving our movements. Warming up your muscles and joints and keeping them flexible are important parts of reducing your risk of injury, increasing your athletic performance, and making sure you remain limber as you go about your daily activities.

Now, if you’d like to add more stretching to your life, be sure to check out many of our wonderful fitness classes or stop in either of our fitness centers and let us share stretches geared toward you.