My trainer insists on stretching before any exercise, even warming up. Should I be worried?

Asked by: Shelly Searle

What happens if you stretch before warming up?

It is very important that you perform the general warm-up before you stretch. It is not a good idea to attempt to stretch before your muscles are warm (something which the general warm-up accomplishes). Warming up can do more than just loosen stiff muscles; when done properly, it can actually improve performance.

Why experts say you should not stretch before exercising?

Recent studies caution people away from stretching before workouts, suggesting it actually impedes your body’s performance. According to this research, runners run more slowly, jumpers jump less high, and weight lifters lift more weakly by stretching, without significantly ensuring against injury during their exercise.

Are you supposed to stretch before working out?

Stretching a healthy muscle before exercise does not prevent injury or soreness. Muscles are made of bundles of tiny fibers. In a typical exercise-related muscle strain, these fibers develop microscopic tears. Theoretically, stretching before exercise should make the muscles more pliable and less likely to tear.

Why should you not stretch in the beginning of a warm up or during a warm up?

So, when it comes to the warmup again, the warmup is not the time to try and improve your flexibility. If you do try and push your stretching during the warmup, you’ll end up stressing muscles putting a lot of strain on them, fatiguing them, which will lead to a poor performance after your warmup.

What are the effects of stretching?

5 Benefits of Stretching

• Stretching can improve posture. Tight muscles can cause poor posture. …
• Stretching can improve range of motion and prevents loss of range of motion. …
• Stretching can decrease back pain. …
• Stretching can help prevent injury. …
• Stretching can decrease muscle soreness.

Do you do dynamic stretching before or after workout?

Dynamic stretches should be done before you start any exercise routine, whether you are involved in sports, weightlifting, running, or other cardiovascular exercise. These stretches adequately warm up the body, get your muscles moving, and get your body ready to work!

What happens if you don’t stretch before working out?

Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints. Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. Then, when you call on the muscles for activity, they are weak and unable to extend all the way.

How much stretching is too much?

Your muscle fibers are so pliable that they can stretch up to one and a half times their starting length. However, you should be careful when stretching your tendons since they aren’t nearly as flexible. In fact, if you stretch a tendon just 4% beyond its original length, you could risk permanent damage.

Why is stretching bad?

Tight muscles are often weak muscles or overworked muscles (if we ignore post-exercise soreness). Persistently stretching them may lead to increased fatigue (due to reduced peak power output) and lead to more “tightness” feelings.

Is stretching the same as warming up?

With a general warmup, the main objectives are to elevate core temperature and increase blood flow to working muscles…whereas the aim of stretching is to increase flexibility and joint range of motion.”

Why is it important to stretch before a workout?

Stretching in the proper way will loosen your muscles and tendons. This will increase flexibility and range of motion during your workout. Improved performance. Stretching beforehand increases blood flow, flexibility, and range of motion, which will in turn improve overall performance.

When should you stretch?

Stretch your body when your muscles are already warm, either after a warmup or at the end of your workout as part of a cool-down routine. Or, you can do a simple stretching routine on its own. Doing stretches after you warm up and before you start a high-intensity activity can cause your heart rate to drop.

Why do we stretch involuntarily?

You may even stretch involuntarily at times. It’s as if your body knows that it needs a good stretch to work more comfortably and efficiently. Stretching lengthens your muscles and reduces stiffness. Stretching also has the potential to stimulate the release of pain-reducing endorphins and improve your circulation .

Should you stretch before walking?

“Stretching before you walk helps decrease the chance of injury, increase your performance during your walk and decrease muscle soreness after you walk,” says Don Lein, PT, PhD, a physical therapist at the University of Alabama’s Spain Rehabilitation Center in Birmingham.

Does stretching actually help?

However, research has shown that stretching can help improve flexibility, and, as a result, the range of motion of your joints. Better flexibility may: Improve your performance in physical activities. Decrease your risk of injuries.

Why do my muscles feel like they need to stretch?

The sensation of muscle tightness or a need to stretch comes about in response to stimulus from the body, and it gets you to pay attention to the area in question, and then move it around. This is sometimes completely appropriate.

Why do I keep stretching and yawning?

Recurrent episodes of uncontrollable yawning and body stretching, identical to those observed upon awakening from physiological sleep, occur in a subset of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) during transcranial therapeutic application of AC pulsed electromagnetic fields of picotesla flux density.

What does excessive stretching mean?

A sharp or stabbing pain means that you’re stretching your muscles beyond their capacity for flexibility. You are overstretching and potentially injuring yourself. Another indication of overstretching, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is feeling sore the day after you stretched.

Does yawning mean lack of oxygen?

One is that when we are bored or tired, we just don’t breathe as deeply as we usually do. As this theory goes, our bodies take in less oxygen because our breathing has slowed. Therefore, yawning helps us bring more oxygen into the blood and move more carbon dioxide out of the blood.

What causes excessive yawning and shortness of breath?

Anxiety affects the heart, respiratory system, and energy levels. These can all cause breathlessness, yawning, and feelings of stress. If a person experiences a lot of anxiety, they may find themselves yawning more often than other people, or more often than when they are not feeling as anxious.

When should I be concerned about excessive yawning?

If you start yawning excessively and are not sure why, you should talk to your doctor. Excessive yawning might be caused by an underlying medical condition. It’s a good idea to ask your doctor what may be the cause. ‌If you’re worried that you can’t stop yawning, you should see your doctor soon.

Can shortness of breath be caused by anxiety?

Studies have shown a strong association between anxiety and respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath. Other symptoms that can occur during this response and as a result of anxiety include: faster breathing (hyperventilation) chest tightness.

Does high blood pressure cause yawning?

A heart attack and a rupture of a large blood vessel can cause excessive yawning. These heart conditions can stimulate the vagus nerve, and a vasovagal reaction can result as the heart pumps less and blood pressure lowers. Narcolepsy and hypersomnia are two disorders that cause constant sleepiness.

Can drinking lots of water lower blood pressure?

It’s encouraged to drink water throughout the day to stay properly hydrated. Along with helping to lower blood pressure, it can assist in lubricating the body, reducing the risk of conditions like kidney stones and urinary tract infections, and it can help improve brain function.

What time of the day is blood pressure highest?

Blood pressure has a daily pattern. Usually, blood pressure starts to rise a few hours before you wake up. It continues to rise during the day, peaking in midday. Blood pressure normally drops in the late afternoon and evening.