Stretching is always deemed of paramount instances in the sports and fitness department where athletes stretch diligently so as to keep the injuries at bay. Nowadays, this very practice has been in the shadows of doubt to whether stretching really makes such a significant difference to their performances or not. As always, it has always been in the grey area, so, let’s explore a bit by the means of this article by Care Axis.

Stretching is a kind of movement that helps in increasing the flexibility by stretching or lengthening the muscle fibers to the most of its ability. Stretching before and after the exercise is known to keep the risk of injury away, enhance the athletic performance and eliminate muscle soreness post workout. There are two most common types of stretching: static and dynamic stretching. The former is when you are lengthening your muscle by staying in a stationery position for a period of time. On the other hand, dynamic stretches use movement and momentum of your body for stretching the muscles to the maximum of their ability without even holding the stretch for a period of time.

According to the researchers…

Researchers have claimed that performing static stretching before a task can bring down your power, strength and performance. But, these reductions have been proven to be minimal and barely noticed at all if the stretches have been kept stationary for less than 45 seconds. Researchers have also claimed that stretching does help in improving flexibility but only for a short while. After you perform a few minutes of stretching, your joints may move further and with minimal resistance, you may improve your flexibility just after you stretch.

The importance of stretching

It is inevitable that stretching feels great, it feels relaxing and your endorphins flush after you have a good stretch. It is also hard to test the long term effects stretching leaves when it comes to checking abnormal tightness. A long term static stretching routine enhances your flexibility and it helps in avoiding injuries. For athletes, stretching must never be a personal choice. You need to warm up before you perform any kind of intense stretching that entails some dynamic stretching to keep the injuries at bay, but we cannot guarantee you any success. But know that strength and balance always have a greater impact on eliminating the injuries in the long run.