27/01/2026
Stretching That Actually Helps (and keeps you training)
Stretching isn’t an optional extra - it’s integral to staying injury-free and feeling your best. Training contracts and shortens muscles; stretching restores length and balances the tension you’ve just created. Skip it regularly and tight tissues can tug on joints/tendons, turning niggles into time off your training.
Before you train, warm up, don’t “cold stretch”
Use dynamic moves to increase blood flow and prep range of motion:
* 30–60secs each: arm circles, shoulder rolls, hip circles, leg swings (front/back & side/side), walking lunges, gentle torso rotations.
* Start small, build the range; keep it pain-free and controlled.
After you train, slow it down and lengthen
Use static stretches to reduce post-session tightness: hold 20–30secs, breathe slowly, 2–3 rounds each.
* Lower body: calves (straight-knee & bent-knee), quads, hamstrings, glutes/figure-4, hip flexors.
* Upper body: pec doorway stretch, lats/child’s pose, upper-trap/lev scap gentle neck holds.
Tip: mild tension is right; no bouncing, no sharp pain.
Why it matters
* Helps maintain joint motion and form
* Can reduce post-exercise stiffness
* Balances muscle groups (strong and long = resilient)
If you’re in pain or think you’ve injured something
Press pause on heavy training and speak to a healthcare practitioner. If you’d like to see whether chiropractic care could help - through assessment, joint work, soft-tissue release, and a simple home plan - I’m happy to chat.