Stretch Like a Rubber Band

Stretching was found to be one of the most crucial and feel-good activities. Many a time, standing up and stretching our backs a little after sitting for long, will make us feel good. But the question is, how good is stretching, and what are its benefits?

Since the craze of Pilates and Yoga, many have found stretching to be comforting. Some may even feel sore after doing a certain amount of stretching. Over a period of time of stretching each muscle, one would believe that they have increased their flexibility by being able to achieve a better range.

Flexibility is defined as the ability to move a joint through its entire range of motion. We often see a gymnast on television or a street performer with hyper-mobility. This is due mainly to pure genetics. But this may not necessarily be a gift that we want. Let me tell you why.

When we stretch till we feel a slight burn and sometimes even a slight pain, and we think that it is our muscles we are stretching, our understanding of it is totally wrong. When we stretch till we feel pain, what we are doing is actually stretching our tendons and ligaments.

In a matter of time, our tendons and ligaments lengthen and we feel that we have achieved better flexibility due to the greater range of motion. When our ligaments and tendons are loose, the chances of dislocation of the bone are much higher. Which is why once a person has dislocated his shoulder or knee for the first time, dislocation of it in the future is much more likely to happen. As we age and lose strength, we lose more stability of the ligaments thus increasing the likelihood of mild dislocation.

Indeed, stretching based on an action of full range of motion makes sense. But to aspire to reach a greater range than that of a normal one, is just plain ignorance, considering the amount of damage it may cause in the future.

While the ligaments hold the joints snuggly in place, the muscles acting through the tendon actually move the bones. The tendons across the joints behave like pulleys, allowing the bones to move relative to one another.

The warnings of coaches and other fitness gurus, instructing us not to lift weights as our muscles will lose flexibility, is sadly, a misconception. As it turns out, muscular strength actually enhances flexibility. Why? Because trained muscles are stronger, more supple and have improved circulation. They are better hydrated and thus have the ability to exert a greater amount of force across the joint, allowing full range of motion while maintaining the integrity of ligaments, hence producing optimal stable flexibility.

Brigham Young University professors and exercise physiologists, Clayne Jensen and Garth Fisher, reported that among athletes, Olympic weight lifters were second, behind gymnasts, in an overall score of a number of flexibility tests. Think of it, swimmers, figure skaters, javelin throwers all could not beat the flexibility of the weight lifters.

Could it be Yoga? Pilates? A regimen of painful stretching exercises? No, the secret is, greater muscular strength, stronger ligaments and tendons allow the joint to move easily through their entire range of motion.