Exercise and injury prevention
Reduce injury with proper stretching techniques.
Jared Anderson, MD, Sports medicine
We often start an exercise program with high hopes and end up with injuries instead. Stretching to warm up is key to preventing injuries caused by doing too much, too soon.
When you think of stretching, you may have images of your middle school P.E. class where you leaned against a wall to stretch your calves before running. This is known as traditional or static stretching.
Static stretches are important in some instances, but have not been shown to be as helpful in preventing injury.
A better warmup includes dynamic stretching. This type of stretching combines movement and flexibility. When you warm up using the muscles that you’ll use in exercise, you can reduce injury by:
- Improving balance and coordination
- Warming up deep muscles
- Coordinating muscle groups
- Getting the nervous system ready for a workout
A dynamic warmup does not have to add too many minutes to your workout. But it may help you reach fitness goals by improving performance and limiting injuries. Flexibility is key to health, no matter your activity level. Start small and try to do some activity every day. Then you will find that all aspects of your health improve.
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for professional health care. You should consult an appropriate health care professional for your specific needs.