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Stretch Before AND After Exercise

The question often arises, "should I stretch before or after exercise?" This is not an either / or situation, both are essential. It is no good stretching after exercise and counting that as your pre-exercise stretch for next time. Stretching after exercise has a totally different purpose to stretching before exercise. The two are not the same.

The purpose of stretching before exercise, is to help prevent injury. Stretching does this by lengthening the muscles and tendons, which in turn increases your range of movement. This ensures that you are able to move freely without restriction or injury occurring.

However, stretching after exercise has a very different role. Its purpose is primarily to aid in the repair and recovery of the muscles and tendons. By lengthening the muscles and tendons, stretching helps to prevent tight muscles and delayed muscle soreness, which usually accompanies strenuous exercise.

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Stretching Tips are brought to you by Brad Walker. Brad is a leading
stretching and sports injury consultant with over 15 years experience in
the health and fitness industry. Each tip is pulled directly from Brad's
best seller, The Stretching Handbook. For more information, visit
www.thestretchinghandbook.com

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The information on this web site is intended for information reference purposes only and is not intended as a substitute to professional medical advice. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, it is recommended that you seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care professional. None of the information on this web site should be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition.