Having tight muscles does not have to be something you put up with. In fact, it is important to address them with proper stretching, the right type at the right time. A good physio Floreat or where you are can help with this. But tightness does not always need to be addressed in this way, sometimes they can happen when you have been overactive or when there is a lack of strength in that area. Here is a look at the pros and cons of static stretching and dynamic stretching.
Understanding static stretching
When a stretch involves being held for a certain duration that is static stretching. Static stretching is not known to cause drastic changes in muscle length or other physiological changes. Stretching like this has its own pros and cons as seen below.
Pros
- Gives low-grade afferent signals to the central nervous system
- Increases a person’s range of motion in their joints
- Offers some short-term pain relief
- Causes relaxation
- Boost overall flexibility
- Improves blood circulation to the area being stretched
- Easy to target certain parts of the body
- Gives more awareness of posture and improves it
- Static stretching with a physio Subiaco can help with concentration, general health and focus
- Good for cool-downs
Cons
- While good for cool-downs it is less so for warming up before physical exercise, dynamic works better
- It is not as good as dynamic when looking to activate muscles
- More general rather than task-specific
A closer look at dynamic stretching
This is stretching where the moves are a part of the range of motions that are to be taken after a physical activity. For example, if you were about to play football, then the stretches will include things like leg swings and high knees and side steps which are moves made playing football. It properly prepares the joints and warms up the muscles in a way that stops them from becoming overly tired and so prevents injury. A physio Floreat would promote this stretching because;
Pros
- Good for posture and posture awareness
- Better way to warm-up for a physical activity
- Can help you perform better in a physical activity
- Promotes blood circulation
- Improves flexibility
- Boosts range of motion in the joints
- Specific to a task so better preparation
- More muscle groups are targeted
- Reduces tensions and stress
- Reduces risk of injury
Cons
- Not the best when one muscle group needs to be targeted
- Depends on medical condition and injuries on whether it is appropriate
- Hard to do if strength or balance has been very seriously impacted
Summary
All stretching comes with benefits including helping with mental, physical and emotional well-being. It just depends on your condition, when it is happening and what you want to get out of it. Talk to a physio Subiaco or one close to you about how you can incorporate the right kind of stretching into a daily routine. It will help with strength, muscle activation, blood flow, flexibility, range of motion and lower your stress levels too.
