Stretching is a system of exercises aimed at stretching muscles and increasing joint flexibility. Stretching exercises are present in many sports, but in the direction of stretching, they are given the main attention.
Alena Demidova points out the key difference between stretching and other sports: “During strength or functional training, muscles contract, thanks to stretching, muscles and tendons, on the contrary, stretch.”
Benefits of stretching
The main goals and benefits of stretching can be described in several points:
Reducing the risk of injury. Due to the fact that ligaments and muscle membranes lose elasticity with age, the human body becomes susceptible to various types of injuries. Sometimes an awkward or abrupt movement due to loss of balance is enough to lead to dangerous consequences.
Getting rid of cramps. Stretching becomes a real salvation for people suffering from night cramps in the legs. After just a week of regular training, they get results, although before that the fight against the disease brought only short-term results. After a month-long course in the gym, they can do short 15-minute sessions twice a day at home and forget about their problem forever.
Productive training. Stretching is important for effective muscle work. In any sport, it is the basis of proper training. Thanks to stretching, the body uses muscle reserves, while reducing the risk of injury.
Good posture. Stretching allows you to evenly work out the back corset, abs and lower back. Static exercises make the muscles smooth and elastic, evenly distribute the load on the spine, allowing it to maintain symmetry. Thus, scoliosis at an early stage and pinching, causing the figure to deform to the side, are corrected.
Slenderness. Exercises aimed at stretching muscles, in addition to the main task, help fight fat deposits and lose weight. The body is better supplied with blood and oxygen. Thanks to such complete “nutrition” the muscles become more prominent, and the limbs and waist, on the contrary, become thinner. The best result is achieved by combining stretching and cardio exercises.
Prevention of joint diseases. When doing exercises regularly, the risk of developing arthrosis is reduced, joint tissues are enriched with oxygen, their mobility improves, and salt deposits are reduced.
Strengthening the immune system and stress resistance. Exercise complexes normalize sleep, allow you to get sick less in the off-season and easily tolerate viruses. And the constant flow of fresh blood and oxygen into the tissues enhances the release of endorphins, allowing you to forget about a bad mood.