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Stretching is an essential part of a complete exercise program. However, many people skip it, thinking they don't have enough time or it's not very important.

Here's Why It's Important:

Stretching offers many benefits, like improving your flexibility, range of motion, and circulation. Stretching may also help to lower your stress level. Advocates for stretching recommend the activity to reduce sports-related injuries, but not all studies have come to this conclusion. Researchers are still exploring how stretching impacts exercise.

Here's How to Stretch:

Two general types of stretching include dynamic stretching, where the joint is moved through full range, and static stretching, where the joint is held at end range of movement. To stretch your muscles you can either do individual stretching exercises for each muscle group or you can do total body stretching routines.

Major muscle groups to stretch include:

• Back muscles
• Neck muscles
• Leg muscles: hamstrings, quadriceps, calf muscles
• Chest muscles
• Buttocks and hip muscles
• Shoulder and arm muscles
• Stomach muscles

Classes in total body stretching include:

• Yoga
• Tai chi

Here are some tips for safe stretching:

• Spend at least 5-10 minutes warming up your muscles before stretching. For example, walking gently while swinging your arms in wide circles.
• Start each stretch slowly, exhaling as you gently stretch the muscle.
• Hold each stretch for about 30 seconds.
• Three to four repetitions are recommended.
• Include dynamic and static stretching. Dynamic stretching involves you stretching the muscle while moving. A walking lunge (without weights) is an example. Static stretching, on the other hand, is when you are stretching a muscle group while staying in one place (like a hamstring stretch).
• Consider not stretching before an intense activity, such as sprinting or track and field events. Some research suggests that pre-event stretching may decrease performance.

Here are some common stretching mistakes to avoid:

• Do not bounce during a stretch.
• Do not stretch a muscle that is not warmed up.
• If a stretch hurts, ease up. Do not strain or push a muscle too far.
• Do not hold your breath while stretching.

• Reviewer: Brian Randall, MD
• Review Date: 05/2012 -
• Update Date: 05/12/2012 -