Stretching: why stretch the body before and after physical activity?

Also according to the professional, stretching also helps prevent injuries to the tendon, ligaments and tendonitis. “Therefore, it is recommended for those who practice physical activity and to maintain flexibility”, justifies.

Frequency of stretching

Incorporating stretching into your routine can be very beneficial to your health. “Some major bodies, such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), recommend stretching 3 to 5 times a week. People with certain medical conditions, such as osteoarthritis, low back pain or joint problems, should stretch every week, until to twice a week. day”, says Christian.

After physical activities

ACSM also recommends stretching before or after a series of fitness or sports exercises. “When the activity is focused on building muscle strength, consisting of resistance exercises, the recommendation is to stretch after the set of exercises”explains Cristiane Peixoto.

According to her, stretching promotes the lengthening of the muscle fiber. Strength exercises, on the other hand, do the opposite: they shorten muscle fibers. “So if you stretch hard beforehand, you can impair performance in the activity.”

Stretch before practice

Experts say gentle, low-intensity stretches lasting a few seconds in each posture can be beneficial, especially for people who want to improve pre-activity posture and joint position. The practice still helps warm up the muscle fibers.

“Studies also show that the person who starts the warm-up with a cold body and starts stretching with a slightly stronger intensity can generate micro-tears in the muscle fibers and, consequently, pain,” concludes the master. Therefore, when in doubt, it is always advisable to consult a PE professional. Then he can recommend the best one for you.