The Importance of Stretching Exercises

Muscles and connective tissues shorten over time and that results in less flexibility. If your muscles have gone some time without being used, they tend to become weaker and quite stiff. The risk of injury is greatly increased when you start to use those muscles suddenly. If you are doing regular stretching exercises to lengthen and strengthen your muscles, injury can be easily avoided.

A pulling sensation is normal while you're doing stretching exercises. It can be mildly uncomfortable but if you are experiencing pain then you are probably over extending your muscles. If this happens then you will need to reduce your stretch to maintain comfort. Of course you can push yourself to stretch further but do so gradually and with much consideration for your pain threshold.

A common mistake that many people make while doing stretching exercises is to bounce into the stretch. Bouncing is not a good idea because it's a sharp, abrupt movement that can do a lot of damage to your muscles. You should focus on the specific muscle that you are stretching and gradually push your limit without causing yourself pain.

You should find that you are more limber in just a few short months if you are dedicated to doing some stretching exercises a few times a week. If you are hoping for a faster result then you can always increase the frequency and duration of your stretching exercises. Just remember not to overdo it because an injury could have you off your feet for an extended period of time.

James is a published author at Fitness Freaks, a site dedicted to bringing you up to date information on Health and Fitness related topics. For more great articles, visit our Fitness Articles page.

---

Exercise Fun

Do you consider exercise fun? Everyone wants to be fit... Read More

10 Workout Mistakes Cheaters Make

"When I'm lifting free weights, I tend to go pretty... Read More

Arthritis Exercise ? One Way to Relieve Pain & Stiffness in Your Joints (part 3)

There are three main types of exercises to include in... Read More

Exercise Equals Fun!

Getting America's children to exercise has never been more difficult... Read More

Thirty Minutes of Exercise a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

"Exercise is good for you!" If you had a dollar... Read More

A Great Way To Spice Up Your Workouts -- Interval Training

There's been a lot of buzz recently about Interval Training.... Read More

Different Exercises Schedule to Combat Diabetes, Arthritis, and Obesity!

Different Health Problems generally do not allow us to do... Read More

Core-Principles: The Function of Functional Training

Okay?okay?okay! Enough already!!! It seems like with every new term,... Read More

The Benefit of Back Exercises

Back exercises are often prescribed effectively as an alternative to... Read More

Programming Brief: Exercise Order

One of the fundamental principles of exercise prescription, specifically resistance... Read More

Struggling To Keep Your Workout Schedule? So am I!

Sometimes following a fitness program or workout schedule is not... Read More

The New Lover Approach to Starting an Exercise Program

Approach a New Exercise Program Like a New LoverHow many... Read More

7 Ways To Guarantee You Stick To Your Workout Program

1. Begin Looking at Exercise Differently. Think of exercise as... Read More

The Top 10 Reasons Why Your Dog is a Great Workout Partner

1) He or she is never late for a workout... Read More

Finding Time to Exercise

Exercising During Commercials I'm getting up an hour earlier these... Read More

Performing Potentially Dangerous Gym Exercises

How do you know that the exercises you are performing... Read More

What is Pilates?

Pilates is a system of over 500 controlled exercises that... Read More

Lance Armstrong?s Training Tactics ? The Tortoise or the Hare?

I have been counseling people on weight loss, exercise efficiency... Read More

Integrating Core Stabilization into Your Workouts

Stabilization is a hot topic in the fitness industry over... Read More

Unstable And Proud Of It! Power to the Push-Ups!

When I get finished teaching you this never-before-seen version of... Read More

Lance Armstrong and Exercise - From Denial to Desire!

Press Conference 1996 ? Lance Armstrong On Wednesday October 2,... Read More

Mixing Things Up

To say that the human body is an amazing machine... Read More

The Bad Workout: Some Advice for Female Bodybuilders

Bad workouts. We have all had them at some time... Read More

Top 5 Exercise Plateau Breakers

Plateau. That dreaded word that you do not want to... Read More

Complete Physical Transformation Using The Purposefully Primitive Fitness Methodology

The Purposeful Primitive approach to the art and science of... Read More