Stretching

[nate]

how important is streching?

how often should i do it?

any one have any streching routines that are worth using?

[B.A.]

I do stretching before and after any workout. Personally, since I have started to incorporate stretching into my workouts, I experience a lower incidence of connective tissue injuries, particularly in the legs. Stretching does help to maintain your current level of suppleness (flexability), as after a certain age (10 I think) you can only maintain what you have.

I would do a "cardio" exercise before starting stretches though. It is important to increase your heart rate, warm up the muscles, and increase the amount of lubrication in the joints (synovial fluid) rather than stretching cold and actually causing an injury. The order of a typical training session:

5-10 minutes total body warm up using "cardio" machine (cross trainer or rowing machine are the 2 best as they warm up the whole body).
Stretching
Work out
Stretching

- B.A.

[look2excel]

it is also good to stretch between ur workouts and flex ur muscles as well