Benefits of Stretching

Benefits of Stretching

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Benefits of Stretching

I am an enthusiast who has been doing gymnastic dances for close to 9 years.  In addition, I have also taught stretching lessons for six years. Keeping fit, being active and healthy is my greatest passion. In addition, I enjoy helping other people achieve their body goals, that is, to become fit. One of the reasons I devote as much time to my lessons is to be more creative. The other thing that makes my dancing lessons better is meeting all kinds of people, different social class, age, race, and abilities. I plan to teach the gymnastic lessons as long as my body allows. Apart from physical fitness, being social, makes it much easier for my job in creating a positive relationship with my clients. Stretching is a physical activity that includes extending the muscles. Many professionals including physicians, athletes, physiotherapists and trainers, recommend stretching to improve physical performance and help avoid injury.

Literature on Stretching

Some studies have discussed the importance of stretching in improving fitness of an athlete, trainer or a dancer, which relates directly to myself. These studies have focused on the role of stretching in preventing muscle injury and improving flexibility as a way of maintaining fitness. La Roche and Connolly (2006) assessed the role of stretching in reducing the risk of muscle injury often as result of doing a peculiar exercise. The study involved 29 participants who were assigned to do ballistic stretching, static stretching while the others were used as a control. The researchers recorded some of the measurements of stiffness, soreness, range of motion, and twists. The researchers put to task the participants to undergo stretching program with the target period of 3600 seconds in 4 weeks. The researchers had the participants repeat the baseline test with some peculiar tasks intended to cause muscle harm/damage done after the first day. The two groups were required to increase the intensity of training regarding the stretch tolerance and range of motion within the period of stretching. The results of the study indicated that the groups involved in stretching, including those who practiced peculiar exercises, felt less pain and had a better range of motion than the control group. Personally as a trainer, sometimes some of the trainees, especially newbies, make some eccentric movements risking their fitness and posture. The study confirms that through stretching the trainees can improve their fitness by correcting the mistakes made in peculiar exercises.  

Stretching also improves flexibility. Sands and McNeal (2000) conducted research aimed at determining whether ballistic stretching would help in enhancing split leap leg positions; one of the techniques done during stretching. The researchers decided to focus on split leap because the majority of gymnasts and trainers rarely include it in their routine. The researchers involved seven gymnasts and the head coach from Olympus School of Gymnastics, who used elastic strips for their training. The gymnasts trained approximately 25-30 hours per week, which lasted for a month. Some of the movements that the gymnasts performed were kicks forward, rearward, sideward, split and straddle jumps. The results of the study indicated that split leap improves range of motion. It also showed that to enhance split performance the timely arrangement of the events of split leap was important. Stretching also helped in developing other skills such as kicks, split leaps and straddle jumps all of which are important to improve flexibility and range of motion. Range of motion and flexibility is good for me as a dancer and trainer. Lastly, Favero (2009) wanted to assess the importance of static stretching and its influence of baseline flexibility. The researcher used 10 participants divided into two groups; 1 group rested while the other stretched. The results indicated that stretching helped in improving the flexibility of an athlete and fitness enthusiasts. Flexibility is good for a dancer and trainer like myself.  Flexibility is a significant factor for dancers as it aids the dancers’ movements.