When approaching a workout , one thing that is overlooked is warming up the muscles. When the muscles/body/circulatory system is warmed up, the workout becomes more effective. Making a workout more effective translates into results, which is the goal attempting to be achieved when exercising. In order to successfully warm up the body, dynamic stretching is vital prior to a workout routine.
The idea of warming up is to literally warm up the muscles. In other words, when one warms up the muscles what he/she is doing is increasing the temperature in the body, preparing the muscles to perform at a high level. Warming up, or activating muscle groups, is essential to overall performance and productivity during a workout.
Examples of dynamic stretching can be basic movements such as jumping jacks or even squats. There are also dynamic stretches that target specific muscles that one may be using during the proceeding workout routine. Dynamic stretching is prefered by fitness professionals prior to a workout rather than static stretching (holding a stretch for a prolonged period of time). While static stretching is the more popular and practical form of stretching, it actually drops the body temperature causing the body to be less elastic which can result in a lack of power and explosion.
The biggest difference between dynamic stretching and static stretching is movement. Dynamic stretches force the body to move while static stretches are performed when the body is completely still. Movement is necessary prior to a workout in order to activate the muscles, so make sure to set aside 10 minutes before your next workout for dynamic stretching.
Post by: Steve Toroni
