Before you engage in any type of physical activity, whether it involves playing sports, or lifting weights, it is necessary to warm up your body. Ever since we were little kids, teachers and coaches always told us to stretch before participating in a game or competition.
However, what many people may not know is that there are two types of stretching for the human body: Dynamic stretching and static stretching. The type of stretching that many have claimed is the most important for us to do before engaging in any physical activity was static stretching, the type of stretching you do when you are in a certain position and hold it there for any given amount of seconds. What many people fail to realize is that the static stretching should take place after your workouts. The dynamic stretches are the one you should do before your workouts.
What Are Dynamic Stretches?
So, what is dynamic stretching? Dynamic stretching is a more active form of stretching as it involves a person using movement and muscular effort to stretch. While static stretching involves a person elongating their muscles to its complete length and holding it there for fifteen to thirty seconds, dynamic stretches take the muscles to their greatest length, pause for a few seconds, the stretched muscle contracts, and the muscles apply a force in that lengthened position. Dynamic stretches are important because they prepare the joints for powerful movement and the muscles for flawless activation. In other words, dynamic stretches gets the body more "pumped up" before a workout. A few examples of dynamic stretches includes jump squats, walking lunges, and walking high knees. Dynamic stretches have plenty of benefits on the human body. Some of those benefits include:
- They imitate your upcoming athletic performance because you are doing warm up moves similar to the sport you're about to engage in.
- Improves muscle coordination
- Improves your range of motion
- Prepares you mentally
- Stretches muscles
- More effective intramuscular activation
Never Forget About Static Stretches
Even though dynamic stretching is the type of stretching you should do before your workouts, static stretches also play a healthy role for your body. Many recommend not to do static stretches before your workouts due to the fact they will hinder your athletic performance. For instance, a basketball player won't jump as high as they normally could, or a track runner may end up running slower than normal. Instead, the best time to do static stretches is after your workout, during your resting phase. Doing static stretches at least once a day is essential for helping you maintain your mobility and flexibility. Some of the benefits of static stretching are:
- Reduces the risks of injury
- Improves flexibility and mobility
- Relieve stress
- Improves your posture
All in all without a doubt, stretching plays a crucial part in your physical activities as they will help with your overall performance and reduce the risk of getting injured. If you are an athlete, make sure you incorporate both dynamic and static stretching in your workout routines.
If you want to know more information about stretching, contact us today and we will enlighten you on the factors of stretching and many other topics related to fitness!
