Your Questions About Benefits Of Stretching After Exercise
Ruth asks…
What are the benefits of stretching exercises?
I’ve heard that stretching exercises can actually make you taller by stretching your spine everyday for like 10 minutes and drink high protein food and milk etc. Is this true? Even after puberty? Does stretching make you taller? If stretching doesn’t make you taller, does it have any other benefits?
fitnesshealth answers:
Uhh no it can’t make you taller, but it will help so that you will not get painful cramps in your body parts that you workout. The only thing that makes you taller is DNA and sugery to get taller…don’t do that tho lol
James asks…
should you stretch after exercise?
after i do something like sit ups or the plank i stretch my arms out over my head and try and streth my tummy area, should i do this? i never strech before this sortof exercise however, what are the benefits/bad sides of doing this? will it tone my tummy more? strech out the muscle?
fitnesshealth answers:
I think stretching before and after exercise is much better. Again, it is just my thought but the way i look at it is that it can not do any harm.
Robert asks…
(Experts Only) Should you stretch before exercise, after exercise, or before and after exercise?
Explain the benefits of your choice.
I heard that you should stretch after exercise to prevent injury.
I don’t know about you, but I abhor those who beat about the bush. The question is about STRETCHING, not WARMUPS.
fitnesshealth answers:
Both…before and after prevents injury…warm ups and cool downs are both needed.n I am in the Army…stretching before a PT test guarentees I will definitely do much better and hurt less afterwards…and after all that stretching afterwards helps me relax. Sometimes I even stretch the night before and the morning of…Helps you be more limber.
Mandy asks…
Is there any benefit from doing stretches & warm-ups if you’re not going to exercise after?
Just before I go to bed I like to do some stretches and warm ups because I like the feeling it gives my muscles. Does this have any benefit or can it have negative effects if I’m not doing anything after, just sleeping? I am aware this is kind of a stupid question but I just wonder these things
fitnesshealth answers:
Not a stupid question. Stretching is always good, for flexibility and avoiding injuries, range of motion, blood circulation, and warming up prior is good for stretching, the muscles are more supple and receptive to stretching if they are warmed up, they are not as likely to suffer microtears, small tears in the muscle tissue, if they are warmed up. The only negative is doing it before sleeping as your sleep won’t be as restful if you raise your heart rate just prior to sleep, when your heart rate has to drop. It’s like wanting a cold glass of water that you are going to to have to put in the refrigerator after you draw it from the tap and boiling it first.
Linda asks…
Pretty easy health homework questions– muscles..?
I can’t find the answers (or anything that would infer the answers) to these Health questions anywhere in my textbook: -and yes, I’ve read it!-
1. Name/describe the 2 types of muscle movement.
2. How does warming up/stretching before exercising benefit your muscles? How about after exercise?
3. Suggest ways that a person can prevent injury to skeletal muscles.
Thanks in advance for your help!
fitnesshealth answers:
1) extention & flexion
2)befoe exercising it helps buy preventing muscle strain and pulling and after exercise it helps by increasing flexability and preventing tightning of muscle damage
3) by stretching! Although while stretching it is importand to not go past the point of hurting doing so can tear the muscle fibers
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Highly Recommended Stretching Techniques for Runners
By Dave Williams
A very common error committed by runners is to underrate the importance of stretching in their running routines. This often leads to muscle tightening or worse muscle and joint injuries. Stretching is part and parcel of any sports activity. Stretches for runners prepare the muscles for the challenging run ahead.
A proper stretch should be done gradually and held for about 25 seconds. Holding the stretch for a certain time releases the muscle tension and allows the muscle group to increase the stretch. You shouldn’t bounce when you do your stretch as this can overstretch a muscle or muscle group resulting to a pulled or torn muscle. As a rule of thumb, if you are experiencing any muscular discomfort or muscle tightening, do not stretch. Stretching should be done before and after training. Here are some of the most common stretches for runners.
Back Stretches
Hold your right elbow with your left hand and gently work the elbow up moving it across your body. Your hand should now touch the space between your shoulder blades. Gradually increase the stretch as far as you can tolerate. Flexing this way works out the triceps and shoulders. Do the same in the opposite side.
Hamstring Stretches
While lying on your back raise your left leg straight up. Position the right foot flat on the floor by bending your right leg. With a towel, hook the left foot and rest the towel in the arch of the foot. While in this position slowly pull the towel towards you and at the same time push away with your foot. Expect to feel your muscles contract. Do the same for the other side.
Hip and Lower Back Stretches
On the floor, assume a sitting position. Sit straight with your legs out in front of you. Lift your left leg and put it over the right leg. While in this position bring your left leg closer to your chest. Twist your torso from the hip in a way that you can look over your left shoulder. Do the same on the other side.
Heel and Buttock Stretches
Stand straight and put your right hand on the wall. Keep your stance straight all the way through this exercise. Stand on your left foot and raise the heel of your other foot so that you can hold it with your left hand. Lift the right foot towards your buttocks. Do this on the left side.
Groin Stretches
Sit on your back. Draw in your feet and let the soles touch each other. Exert a gentle pressure on the inner region of your knees using your elbow. As you do this, lean forward. The pressure should be kept until the end of this routine.
Calf Stretches
Stand straight facing a wall about 3 feet in front of you. Put both hands against the wall with arms straight out supporting your entire body. Slowly lean your hips toward the wall and gradually bend your knees. This exercise stretches your calves.
Also, interested in a good weight loss program? Have a look at the Insanity workout program. It is really good. Also, remember to look at our detailed Insanity reviews page, you’ll enjoy it.
Categories: Fitness Tips, Stretching Tags: flexibility, running stretches, stretching
Your Questions About Benefits Of Stretching After Workout
Robert asks…
The benefits of stretching b4 and after workouts?
What does stretching do exactly? I know it prevents injury, but anything else does it do? Does it make you taller or stronger? Thanks to all who answer (in a good way)
Healthtoday answers:
Sirjohn, that’s why there’s warmup sets on top of stretches, before your working sets.
Obviously it releases tension built up in muscles, which can help reduce cramps, pulling muscles, and other injuries. It’s basically just for a good warmup. And stretching after is actually almost as important as before, despite that some people don’t. It will provide additional work to the muscles you just used, and can help with flexibility and stability more than stretching before. As for making you taller or stronger, not really. If your still in puberty, than it could POSSIBLY help you grow just a little taller. And for strength, it doesn’t really help all that much, but kind of like said before, it prepares the muscles to allow for longer and harder work without injury, so it can HELP build strength, although it doesn’t directly.
Jenny asks…
stretching after workout?
Does stretching several times (spaced out throughout the rest of the day) after a work help with not being so sore the next day? Or does it only benefit most right before and after the workout?
Healthtoday answers:
Activating the muscles that are sore will (ironically) make you feel better in the long term, because it stimulates blood flow and it removes the toxins which are making more damage to your muscle than your workout. About stretching before exercise, if you find that it is something that works for you and keeps you injury-free, be sure to do it, but there’s no one opinion on whether serious stretching should be done before exercising. Of course, warming up is necessary.
Any stretching exercises will do, but keep in mind your body would love the stress relief of stretching just after the workout.Feel free to stretch whenever possible, as many times as you’re comfortable with, but make sure you’re doing it the right way (no tugging, no pulling, no pushing, just gentle and soft moves just up to the brink of being uncomfortable).
Another great technique is icing, which I do to my shins and calves (I’m a runner), as many times a day as I can, to stop the inflammation. An extreme example of icing for the whole body is the cold water shower, but if you’re not comfortable, don’t do it.
Ruth asks…
Benefits of 2x a day workout?
I usually hit the gym in the early morning for 20-30 minutes of cardio, 30 minutes of circuit training, plus stretching 3-5 mornings a week. I’m thinking about adding in some after work gym time (x-trainer, circuit training) but didn’t know if that would be beneficial or if I would just be spinning my wheels. Advice?
Going for muscle toning. I’ve already lost 50lbs and can’t lose much more than maybe 10. Sculpting and body fat reduction is my goal.
Healthtoday answers:
I work midnights and i go to the gym for an hour after work in the morning and then an hour in the evening after i wake up, and it works out just fine for me. I feel like it is very benificial. It has helped a lot with my weight loss, though you didn’t indicate whether you were working out for weight loss purposes or just to tone up, and that makes the difference as well. If you are trying to lose weight, going 2x a day is going to make a world of difference, if not, im not sure how much you want to work your muscles for sculpting, i havn’t gotten to that point yet.
Charles asks…
For you gym rats, do you get uncomfortable when people stretch in front of you?
Because of limited space, I stretch on this raised area in the local gym’s weight room. I used to dance but have taken a hiatus, so I’m starting to limber up again so I can take classes again. Thing is, I get uncomfortable when I think other people are uncomfortable. Sometimes when I stretch I feel people are thinking, “Psh, what’s she showing off for…” Maybe in a small way I am, but I’m mostly doing it for my benefit. I love stretching, especially after a cardio workout. I usually stretch for a half an hour. There are mostly guys in the weight room, so I guess I’m asking guys mainly, do you hate when girls stretch in the weight room? I don’t have a “dancer’s body” anymore but I’m not fat, and I don’t think I’m very pretty…Does that matter when you consider if someone’s worth watching?
Healthtoday answers:
If people have a problem with this tell them to deal with it. It’s good to stretch to avoid injury- if this is the only place to stretch then you are fine!
Laura asks…
How will this off season track workout benefit me for this year?
im 17, senior in high school my track events are 200m, 100m, 4×1 relay, and i do the long jump for fun.
First off i have a Team Sports class my last class of the day, so i consider that my warm-up and stretching,
today after that class was out i went up to the track, and ran a mile, probably in just under 6:00 so it was pretty fast paced,
after that i walked a lap cool down, and went to the stadium stairs, they are probably just over a foot high, and 2 feet long, and about 15 of them high, so i ran up them about 9-10 times and worked on my form with my arms while doing so.
then i went to a rarely used road right above our track, that has a slight incline, that is pretty noticable, and stretches for about 100m. i ran 5-6 times as fast as i can for around 50m, then the last one i ran pretty hard all the way to the top.
after that i cool down and stretch,
im thinking about doing that every other day, what do you think???
Healthtoday answers:
Don’t even bother with the mile for the distances you are doing. Hit the weight room, the stairs you did are a good strength workout. Make sure to hit the weight room too. Get out on the track and practice speed work. Don’t repeat the same workouts daily, you don’t want to tax one system too much.
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