Stretching and pain perception, when to stop?

Asked by: Deanna Brown

How do you know when to stop stretching?

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.

Should you stretch past pain?

#7) Stretching an injured muscle
Contrary to popular belief, stretching an injured muscle will not help with pain and can prolong the healing process. Injured tissues need a break in order to heal.

Why does stretching make my pain worse?

It can actually aggravate the muscles that are already inflamed due to injury. Trigger points, which form when muscles knot up around an injured area, are not alleviated with stretching. They are often causing the pain and may become further inflamed if the patient stretches.

How long should I hold a stretch?

15 to 30 seconds

You should hold a stretch for at least 15 seconds.
True: Most experts now agree that holding a stretch for 15 to 30 seconds is sufficient.

What does over stretching feel like?

The effects of overstretching typically include aches and soreness, but they may also be as extreme as bruising, swelling, and even muscle spasms. A mild muscle strain may only last a few days and feel a bit off, but a major strain may take months to heal.

Is there such a thing as over stretching?

The Verdict: You can stretch too much
“But it’s a rare occurrence, and when it does happen, we don’t usually feel it right away.” Overstretching can involve muscles, joints or both. It occurs when the muscle or joint is pushed well beyond its normal limits.

What 3 conditions should a person avoid stretching?

In particular, she says you should refrain from stretching any time you have acute muscle strain, acute ligament sprain, or nerve injury/damage. And it’s definitely off-limits if you have sharp, consistent, or radiating pain. That’s true even if you don’t recall a specific injury.

Why am I still stiff after stretching?

“If you always feel tight in a muscle even after stretching it, it is most likely weak and not tight,” she says. “These muscles will sometimes seize up and guard so they feel tight, when really they are chronically weak and not strong enough to meet the demands you’re placing on them.”

How long does a strain take to heal?

For a mild strain, you may be able to return to normal activities within three to six weeks with basic home care. For more severe strains, recovery can take several months. In severe cases, surgical repair and physical therapy may be necessary.

What happens if I hold a stretch for 5 minutes?

Studies in North America and Australia have found that holding a pose for a minute or longer can lead to between a five- and 7.5 percent impairment in various measures of performance, when exercise is performed immediately after the long stretches, says Behm. Don’t let that stop you from doing deep stretching.

How long is too long to stretch?

You hold your stretches too long (or not long enough).
The sweet spot falls between 15 and 60 seconds, depending on your level of flexibility and the stretch. The safest bet is 30 seconds per stretch, which will work to lengthen your tissue and muscle fibers.

How long does it take to see results from stretching?

You should begin to notice a difference in how flexible you are within two to four weeks. However, that’s only if you practice stretching at least five days every week.

What happens to your body when you start stretching more often?

Regular stretching helps increase your range of motion in the joints, improves blood circulation and posture and alleviates muscular tension throughout the body, he tells. In addition, it enhances your athletic performance and may reduce the risk of injury, notes the fitness expert.

How long do you need to stretch to become flexible?

Stretching can be time-consuming. But you can achieve the most benefits by stretching regularly, at least two to three times a week. Even 5 to 10 minutes of stretching at a time can be helpful. Skipping regular stretching means that you risk losing the potential benefits.