What Types of Stretching Will Prevent Injury?
As mentioned in the overexertion article, it is always best to warm up your muscles slowly for a short period, then stretch before engaging in an exercise routine. Stretching afterward can be beneficial as well. The different types and methods of stretching have a variety of affects on your body, and particular stretching and strengthening techniques can prevent injury. Stretching is one of the most controversial exercise topics. Doctors, athletes, coaches and trainers all seem to have a variety of opinions about the most effective stretching strategies.There are basically four stretching methods: 1) Static, 2) Active-Isolated, 3) Contract Relax, and 4) Yoga. Static stretching is a facilitated stretch where other muscles actually stretch the target muscle. A good example is the toe touch, where the stretch occurs when the pelvis tilts forward. Static stretches should be held for 10-30 seconds, and two repetitions seem to work better than just one. The idea is to get a deeper stretch on
