Stretching regularly will strengthen your muscles and increase your flexibility. The more flexible you are, the better it is for your joints, your day-to-day range of motion to avoid injury.
Even though it’s best to do deep stretching post-workout, your warmup can also include elements that have built-in stretches, like lunges, or doing high kicks. After a workout, should be more purposeful stretching to reduce tension so that your muscles can return to a relaxed state.
Tips for better stretching
- Focus on Major muscle groups – which are shoulders and neck, calves, thighs, hips, and lower back.
- Hold stretches for about 30 seconds on each side. Do not bounce.
- Remember to breathe. Exhale while going into the stretch; hold the stretch as you inhale.
These health tips are brought to you by the Warm Springs Diabetes Program.
