Dynamic stretching

In case you have not heard of it before I am going to introduce to you a very specific type of stretching called ‘Dynamic stretching’. Quite simply dynamic stretching is stretching with movement. This type of stretching has been around for several years however, is has taken a while to catch on. Typically when we think of stretching we think of static stretching which is stretching with no movement. Both dynamic and static stretching have their benefits however, it is important that we understand when exactly we should carry out dynamic stretches and when we should do static stretches.

Why stretch?

When we stretch we gradually lengthen the muscles, which provides us with a more effective range of motion and reduces our risk of injury. Longer muscles also allow us to move more efficiently and enable us to maintain a healthy posture. When we engage in exercise we increase the tension on the muscles, so in order to reduce injury risk and prepare ourselves for the session we need to warm up. This is where our dynamic stretching comes in.

Warming up

The aim of a good warm up is to raise the temperature of the working muscles, lengthen the muscles, lubricate the joints, rehearse movement patterns and get our heads in the game (psychological preparation). Dynamic stretching will tick all of those boxes. When planning your dynamic stretches make sure you cover the joints and the muscles that you will training within the session. That being said it doesn’t hurt to warm any others up too. You may choose to write a dynamic stretch routine that covers the whole body. A short dynamic stretch routine carried out each day for the whole body will work wonders for your mobility and posture.

A simple dynamic stretch routine

The following is a very simple stretch routine for beginners new to a dynamic warm up. Try 10 reps of each stretch one after another then repeat for a total of three circuits.

For more information or advice, call Jon on 01273 613014 or email info@stormfitnessacademy.co.uk