Stretching For Bodybuilders and Other Athletes

Stretching can optimize an athlete's learning, practice, and performance
of many different types of skilled movements, as well as increase their
mental and physical relaxation and promote development of body awareness.
It can also reduce the risk of joint sprain or muscle strain, the risk
of back problems, muscle soreness, and muscle tension.

There are many ways you can stretch your muscles, joints, and connective
tissue, and what type of stretching you choose is somewhat dependent on
your fitness goals and what assistance you have access to. Here are a
few methods to consider.

Dynamic stretching involves moving parts of your body and gradually
increasing the range of motion and/or speed of movement. Dynamic
stretching, which typically consists of controlled leg and arm swings
that take you to the limits of your range of motion, can improve dynamic
flexibility and is quite useful as part of your warm-up for an aerobic
workout.

Active stretching, or "static-active" stretching, is a simple technique
where a stretch position is assumed and held for several seconds. It's
termed active because the individual actively assumes the stretch
position without being assisted by a partner.

Passive stretching is also referred to as relaxed stretching or
"static-passive" stretching. A passive stretch is one where you assume
a position and hold it using the assistance of some other part of your
body or with the assistance of a partner. Passive stretching is good
for "cooling down" after a workout and helps reduce post-workout muscle
fatigue and soreness. A general recommendation is to hold a passive
stretch for 10-60 seconds.

Isometric stretching is a type of static stretching which incorporates
the use of isometric contractions (tensing) of the targeted muscles.
The use of isometric stretching is one of the fastest ways to develop
increased static-passive flexibility and some experts say it can be
much more effective than either passive or active stretching alone.
Isometric stretches may actually develop some strength in the
"tensed" muscles and seems to decrease the amount of pain associated
with stretching. The proper way to perform an isometric stretch is as
follows:

Assume the position of a static-active stretch for the desired
muscle.

Next, contract or tense the stretched muscle for 7-15 seconds.

Repeat the static stretch.

Relax the muscle for at least 20 seconds, and repeat steps 1-3.

PNF stretching is one of the fastest and most effective ways to
increase most forms of flexibility. PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation) is not really a single stretch technique, but rather a
method which combines passive and isometric stretching. First tighten
the muscle opposite to the one you're planning to stretch for a few
seconds. Then relax and immediately stretch the target muscle for
several seconds. An example of opposite or opposing muscle groups are
quadriceps and hamstrings. So if your hamstrings are really tight and
your goal is to increase their flexibility, you would begin a PNF
session with an isometric contraction of the quadriceps. Then relax
the quadriceps and immediately stretch the hamstrings.

What is the purpose of tightening the muscle opposite to the one you
are stretching? Well, when a muscle in a pair tightens, the opposing
muscle receives a signal to relax and "allow" the contraction. In
essence, you have facilitated relaxation and decreased any resistance
in the target muscle before you even begin the stretch.

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