Importance of Stretching After a Workout
Stretching after a workout is extremely important because it not only allows you to cool down and recover, but it also helps prevent future injury. When I started working out, I did not take the time to stretch afterward. I brushed it off as an insignificant part of my workout. In my mind, burning calories and building muscle were the most important aspects of my routine. Unfortunately, I experienced back pain and muscle soreness because my muscles were tense. Once I began adding a 10 to 15-minute stretch routine at the end of my workouts, I felt much better the next day. In this article, I will discuss the importance of stretching after a workout.
Importance of stretching after a workout
1. Stretching keeps the muscles strong, flexible, and healthy
According to Harvard Health Publishing, a lack of flexibility keeps the muscles short and tight. This leads to joint pain, strains, and muscle damage when you attempt to work out an inflexible muscle. Muscle flexibility and health also help with balance.
2. Promotes circulation and relaxation
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) says that stretching increases blood supply to your muscles and joints. Tense muscles can cut off their own circulation which blocks them from receiving nutrients and oxygen.
3. Reduces the risk for low back pain
According to ACE, flexibility in the muscles attached to the pelvis helps reduce the stress on the lower spine, thus decreasing the risk of low back pain.
Great cool-down routines
You can find many great cool-down and stretching routines online. For example, I follow Chloe Ting’s cool-down videos that range from 10 to 15 minutes. They include various yoga poses to help my muscles recover and relax.
CHARGEit
Need some pre-workout energy? Try CHARGEit, your solution to increased energy! I use this before my morning and mid-afternoon workouts to energize me.
