The word stretching comes from English and means lengthening; athletes use it to indicate a set of exercises aimed at muscle improvement.
In recent years, stretching has become increasingly popular. It is now an independent physical activity essential for maintaining body flexibility and mobility. Besides, many athletes and people use CBD after sports to help muscle relaxation and inflammation. Find out more about cannabinoids' benefits here.
Where does stretching originate?
Its origins are oriental. In fact, Eastern philosophies tend to consider body and mind as one. Furthermore, ​​concentrating on one's sensations derives from these distant peoples.
In Bangkok, 2000-year-old statues represent people stretching; in ancient China, many people practised stretching, and some exercise models have been found in Indian yoga.
It arrived in Europe through American influences in the wake of aerobic gymnastics, the culture of free time, and body care. Bob Anderson, along with Kabat and Holt, is considered the pioneer of the modern era of stretching.
Stretching after training: how and why to do it
Stretching after training is very important for maintaining correct muscle tone and preventing injury. In addition, this practice can also help increase flexibility and reduce muscle pain. Thus, stretching after training can significantly benefit both physical and mental health. For best results, stretching slowly and in a controlled manner is recommended. The duration of each exercise depends on the area to be stretched, but generally, it is advisable to spend 30 seconds at most for each body part. The total number of sessions should vary between 10-15 minutes at the most at the end of the workout. Always follow your instructor's instructions and try to make stretching a permanent fixture in your daily sports routine!
How to stretch properly
To perform it correctly, you must have a full range of motion without pain. In addition, it is essential to maintain a static position by minimising swaying movements when performing stretching and preventing uncontrolled release of the affected muscle. Another important thing to consider is the length of time spent in the stretch position: do not exaggerate the duration, as this could cause stretching and injury to the connective tissue even if you feel no pain. It is advisable to warm up well before the specific exercise you want to do and then stretch gradually in all the joints involved.
Is stretching necessary?
Yes, but it depends significantly on the sporting activity you practice. It can be helpful if I'm a hundred-meter runner and carry out an explosive activity; it makes less sense if I'm a half-marathon runner.
Should those who decide to do it do it before or after?
Stretching is usually associated with the warm-up phase in preparation for sports performance. In reality, the latest studies say that doing this muscle stretching before performance is not a good practice; it can even compromise performance. This means that it should be done. But before the performance, a warm-up must be done, which is different from stretching. Even in football, it does not prevent injuries; sometimes, it can be counterproductive.
Are there any risks if you do it first?
Stretching when the muscles and tendons are still cold can cause excessive stress, which can even lead to real tears during the effort or even immediately. Stretching before a cold workout reduces the ability to develop muscle strength by up to 10 per cent of the total, and this leads to a reduction in sporting performance because it decreases muscle elasticity, or rather the ability of our muscles to shorten rapidly after stretching.
Last words
Before or after sport, stretching is essential for your body and muscles. It is also an excellent way to achieve better relaxation. If you want to use CDB oil along with your stretching, head to JustBob.shop and discover the best CBD products online at the best price.