Did you know that the most common type of stretching, known as static stretching, can actually be more harmful to a person’s muscles than helpful? Researchers have discovered that “the old routine of holding a position for 20 to 30 seconds, actually weakens them” (Reynolds). So how should athletes warm up if stretching may actually be the cause of some injuries? Coaches and athletes should perform dynamic stretching rather than static stretching before performing activity or exercise because it reduces chances of injury, increases strength and range of motion, and has been proven to be safer and more efficient than static stretching.
One main concern that runs through the mind of an athlete is receiving an injury due to the lack of warming up properly. A pulled muscle would only hurt an athlete’s performance and result in time taken away from their routine workout in order to heal that injury. A warm-up should warm the muscles and liberate them to prevent rigorousness and/or constriction. A proper warm-up is important because, “warm muscles and dilated blood vessels pull oxygen from the bloodstream more efficiently and use stored muscle fuel more effectively” as a result (Reynolds). When an athlete performs dynamic stretching, they are constantly moving throughout the entire warm up as well as stretching at the same time. When a person performs static stretching, a short type of running may be included before the stretch in an attempt to “warm” the muscles of one’s body. Unfortunately since all static stretches are either standing still or residing on the ground, the muscles are given a good amount of time to cool down. Finally, when it is time for the athlete to perform their actual workout, their muscles are cold a...
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... the range of motion by slowly surpassing the body’s limits in a safe, controlled manner. Finally, dynamic stretching strengthens muscles versus weakening them unlike static stretching. Dynamic stretching can be performed by anyone and it is time consuming, a benefit for both coaches and athletes.
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Reynolds, Gretchen. "Stretching: The Truth." New York Times [New York] 31 Oct. 2008. Print.
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"Dynamic Stretching: Advantages and Disadvantages." Fitness Choices. 4 Aug. 2010. Web. 23 Aug. 2011. .
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Another kind of endurance is short term muscle endurance. This training helps athletes to cope with
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The background of athletic training started way back in ancient Greece. Back then they believed massage was very important, especially to the people that pla...
Over training is the effect of forcing the body to work too hard without the rest to compensate for it. This is very important because if an athlete is being over trained, they may be putting too much stress on a certain area of the body. Over training may also force the athlete to completely forget about proper form and risk further injury. In “Overtraining and Burnout in Sports”, it is stated that athletes will perform the best when they can quickly recover during competition and can handle stress, recovery, and future stress (Kellmann). After every practice or game, a cooldown stretch should be done to help relax muscles and keep them at ease. Doing these stretches very often will help decrease the risk of any injury
Gabboth, Tim. "Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins). Feb2012, Vol. 26 Issue 2, P487-491. 5p." N.p., n.d. Web.
In order to fully understand the impact and effect of overtraining, defining and establishing the difference of what overtraining is from other conditions, such as overreaching, is necessary. Overtraining is defined as the accumulation of both training and non-training stresses producing a long-term effect on the athlete’s performance capacity, with or without physical and psychological overtraining signs and symptoms in which recovery of the performance capacity will take weeks to months (Halson, 2004 p. 969). Overreaching, however, is defined by the accumulation of training and non-training stresses with a short-term effect on the a...
The body was designed to perform a variety of tasks while actively using muscles. Sustained muscle activity robs the muscles of life giving blood flow. It is very important to actively stretch during breaks to flush out toxins that build up in the muscles that were used for sustained posture.
Whether you're a pro athlete or someone just starting to get into shape, the strengthening and stretching positions and motions yoga puts you through is an excellent start for staying, and becoming, an athlete. When first starting, certain positions, like a backbend, may not be accomplishable. But with time and work, slowly your body loosens up until you can feel the muscles throughout your body, and you become more aware of yourself. As you develop self-awareness, it also becomes easier to tell where you body is weak or strong. Which joints may need extra work, while others may not. Targeting your weaker points, instead of relying on your stronger ones, will indulge you with less injuries and illnesses. Call it becoming one with yourself. ...
"Flexibility Training... Stretching For Sport And Athletes." Phil Davies' Sports Fitness Advisor - Get Fit for Sport & Life. Web. 03 June 2010. .
Today, millions of people have discovered the benefits of stretching. Over the last years, studies have shown that people that live these active lives live fuller lives. In fact, studies show that a lack of physical activity directly relates to many major illnesses and death. Before the Industrial Revolution, people actually had to work hard to get their needed amount of movement. After the Revolution, it became a different story. People no longer needed to work physically to make a life for themselves. With this lack of movement came lack of flexibility. Now, everywhere you look, you see people out jogging, hiking, and playing golf, tennis, and other sports to stay active. The fitness trend is in; but it’s not a trend anymore. Now, it’s a way of life. Stretching is an important part of this way of life that many people leave out.