I'm sure that everyone knows that it is important to properly prepare your body before doing any strenuous exercise. By stretching your muscles, you can help avoid serious injuries that are not only painful, but can also impede your performance meaning it takes much longer for you to lose weight.
I also recommend that people stretch before and after any exercise, so be sure to do your stretching before you start using your treadmill! This will help to increase your flexibility, putting less stress on your muscles. Stretching after your workout is important too to help prevent pulled muscles and other injuries.
Here are my top tips to help you avoid damaging your muscles while exercising:
1. Never stretch until it hurts! The majority of people think that there's 'no gain without pain'. This is never the case - you should only ever stretch to a position that is comfortable for you, and then hold this position for about 20 seconds.
2. When stretching you should always breathe - some people believe that holding their breathe will help, but this is not the case. By actually doing some deep breathing exercises you will be able to give your muscles a much more thorough stretch.
3. Many people see the stretching as a warm up, but it's really important that your muscles are actually warmed up before you stretch, so always walk or jog for a few minutes to get blood flowing to your muscles.
4. After your workout, you can stretch after you take a warm bath or shower. The hot water will help relax your muscles, and the after workout stretch will feel good.
5. You may have seen professional athletes bouncing while they stretch, but you should never ever do this! Bouncing during stretching exercises can actually cause serious injuries to your muscles rather than prevent injuries.
It's always important to stretch all of your muscles and not just those in your legs - after all, walking on a treadmill actually exercises your whole body! Be sure to fully stretch the muscles in your legs, such as your calf muscles, quadriceps, and hamstrings. However, you should also make sure your other muscles are fully stretched too, pay special attention to your neck, abs, back and shoulders.
Don't just bend over and hang, trying to touch your toes. Add some additional stretches, such as the splits, lunges, and calf stretches where you stand on the edge of a step or curb and drop your heels to the point right before it becomes uncomfortable.
When stretching you should always make sure your movements and slow and deliberate - it actually helps to keep some tension in the muscles to get the most out of your stretch. And remember, you should never stretch to the point where it becomes painful. - 15266
I also recommend that people stretch before and after any exercise, so be sure to do your stretching before you start using your treadmill! This will help to increase your flexibility, putting less stress on your muscles. Stretching after your workout is important too to help prevent pulled muscles and other injuries.
Here are my top tips to help you avoid damaging your muscles while exercising:
1. Never stretch until it hurts! The majority of people think that there's 'no gain without pain'. This is never the case - you should only ever stretch to a position that is comfortable for you, and then hold this position for about 20 seconds.
2. When stretching you should always breathe - some people believe that holding their breathe will help, but this is not the case. By actually doing some deep breathing exercises you will be able to give your muscles a much more thorough stretch.
3. Many people see the stretching as a warm up, but it's really important that your muscles are actually warmed up before you stretch, so always walk or jog for a few minutes to get blood flowing to your muscles.
4. After your workout, you can stretch after you take a warm bath or shower. The hot water will help relax your muscles, and the after workout stretch will feel good.
5. You may have seen professional athletes bouncing while they stretch, but you should never ever do this! Bouncing during stretching exercises can actually cause serious injuries to your muscles rather than prevent injuries.
It's always important to stretch all of your muscles and not just those in your legs - after all, walking on a treadmill actually exercises your whole body! Be sure to fully stretch the muscles in your legs, such as your calf muscles, quadriceps, and hamstrings. However, you should also make sure your other muscles are fully stretched too, pay special attention to your neck, abs, back and shoulders.
Don't just bend over and hang, trying to touch your toes. Add some additional stretches, such as the splits, lunges, and calf stretches where you stand on the edge of a step or curb and drop your heels to the point right before it becomes uncomfortable.
When stretching you should always make sure your movements and slow and deliberate - it actually helps to keep some tension in the muscles to get the most out of your stretch. And remember, you should never stretch to the point where it becomes painful. - 15266
About the Author:
Treadmill walking to lose weight is a terrific first step after you get those muscles stretched! Get treadmill workout tips including indepth reviews of the best rated treadmills here.
