Have a Good Warmup: Part 4

Welcome to Part 4 of our mini series on how to have a good warm up. In case you missed the last 3 posts here are the links to them. This post in particular

• How to Have a Good Warmup: Overview
• Have a Good Warmup: Part 2
• Have a Good Warmup: Part 3

This particular post will focus on the positive and negative benefits of dynamic stretching as well why dynamic stretching has a slight advantage for you as opposed to static stretching. Dynamic stretching is commonly defined as momentum of a movement to complete its extension of a muscle group. Some common forms of dynamic stretching include walking lunges, arm circles, and leg raises.

The primary benefit of dynamic stretching is that motions that are most commonly used during the stretches are similar to that of the motions of a performing athlete.Furthermore this form of stretching is designed to help prepare the body for high intensity movements . In addition to this flexibility is greatly increased in your ankle, hips and middle back depending on what type of stretch you do. Dynamic stretching also provides motion resistance in areas such as knee and lower back.

Dynamic stretching downside lies for the most part in the fact that injuries can become more common. Furthermore this form of stretching is more geared towards people are more athletic or have been running on a more regular basis.  To continue dynamic stretching has proven to be ineffective in helping to aid with injury. For particular muscle groups dynamic  stretching is simply void in increasing flexibility.

 

So this brings to the most important question. As a runner why should I use dynamic stretching? T Dynamic stretching  uses momentum built up by various movements and active muscular effort to stretch the muscles with a particular movement. Again dynamic stretching focuses on motions that mimic the motions of a athlete  performing a action of his\her sport. 

This article from Runners World provides a great dynamic stretching routine that is geared towards runners.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-287--13442-0,00.html

It is important to point out that although the benefits of dynamic stretching are by far better than static stretching it does not mean that static stretching is irrelevant. It is best to do your dynamic stretches before you run and do static stretches afterwords. 

Thanks For Reading!!

Keep Running!!