Increase Flexibility and Avoid Injury With Stretching
January 7, 2008 by Kristen King
Filed under Women's Health
Even if you don’t run or engage in other strenuous exercise or activities, you can benefit from stretching daily. Women who stretch regularly enjoy increased flexibility and fewer injuries than those who don’t because their muscles are better conditioned to bounce back and more accustomed to lenthening uses.
Some of my favorite stretches include…
- Standing with feet together, keeping my back straight, and bending at the waist with my arms hanging straight down. This stretches the muscles you feel across the backs of your knees.
- Standing with feet about shoulder width apart, bending at the waist with curved back, bending knees as though straddling a big exercise ball and placing hands on the floor. This stretches the muscles in your inner thighs.
- Sitting on the floor, back straight, legs straight out in front, reaching for toes.
- Sitting on the floor, back straight, legs spread wide, turning gently at the waist and reaching for toes on each foot, and then straight in front.
Life Tips offers some detailed instructions for the last stretch on my favorites list. Whatever you do, go slowly, and stop if you feel pain. Feeling the stretch is good. Tearing something is not.
Other sources of stretching info:
- Stretching and Flexibility – How to Stretch
- HowToStretch.com
- Mayo Clinic Slide Show – Stretching Major Muscle Groups
Related LW Articles:
- Getting Started Running
- Is Your Workout Well Rounded?
- What Your Workout Program MIGHT Be Missing…
- Quick Tip for Preventing Injuries
What are your favorite stretches? Leave a comment!
Contents © Copyright 2008 Kristen King
Tags: womens health, woman, health, stretching, flexibility, prevent injuries
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