Stretching Loosens Muscles and Prevents Injuries

Professional athletes understand the importance of stretching. While undeniably vital to a player’s success, it’s a boring subject of sports that is consistently passed over by mainstream media outlets. As a result, stretching is rarely discussed, especially when compared to the more glorified parts of athletics. Who wants to stretch when you can score?

Coaches have the responsibility of raising awareness for stretching so their athletes do their best to properly prepare for athletic events. Stretching readies muscles for different kinds of weather as well as intense physical activity. Without it, an athlete significantly increases the odds of injury.

Through talks at practice and pages on team websites, coaches can teach their players about a range of different stretching techniques and the importance of the act itself. There are many different stretches that can be done to focus on certain muscles. Once a young athlete gains a proper appreciation for the techniques, they will begin to take care of their body before and after sports events.

When Cowboys become ballerinas

The Dallas Cowboys were looking for any edge ahead of their playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. Just like any team, they do high knee drills and butt kicks. However, the Cowboys have also been loosening their hamstrings with ballet bars, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Teammates get a good laugh from seeing big fellas use equipment that is usually reserved for skinny dancers. However, even after the chuckles, players took the practice seriously.

“Yeah, it’s funny to see a 300-pound guy holding on to a ballerina bar,” linebacker Cameron Lawrence told the publication. “But in the NFL, if you are going to play for any length of time, you’ve got to take care of your body. They don’t care that it’s a ballerina bar. If it helps them, they are on it.”

The many benefits of stretching

The Press of Atlantic City reported that stretching can be a good way improve posture, balance and flexibility. It can also be relaxing and decrease pain in tight muscles. Yet athletes would be wise to get into a regular stretching routine because the practice can prevent injuries.

“Stretching increases a joint’s range of motion,” Diana Dove, a certified personal trainer in New York, told the news source. “Without sufficient range of motion, the body is vulnerable to injury. The likelihood of pulling a muscle due to overexertion increases, as does the potential to lose balance or take a fall.”