Stretching To Prevent Injury
Not everyone understands the importance of stretching after exercising. Most people give a cursory nod to it by bending over a few times and swinging their arms around. But really, that is not sufficient for preventing injury and building strength. Even a simple toning routine requires stretching.
Did you know that the strength increase occurs when the muscles repair themselves from the injury caused during exercise. The micro-tears in the muscles are healed with extra muscle fibers, making them stronger and bigger. This is what makes stretching so important.
When you complete a 45-60 minute work out, you should spend at least 3-5 minutes on serious stretching. No half-hearted efforts here. And no bouncing stretches either. Lean into a stretch and hold it for 15-20 seconds. And then repeat it on the other side. When you take the time to stretch after exercising, you will make it easier for your muscles to repair themselves after toning and improve your overall strength, appearance, and flexibility.
