Home Blogs Stretches For Running

Stretches For Running

Knee Stretches For Running

When you run you are putting your body especially your legs, lower back and knees under a lot of stress. Stretches for running are primarily for increasing your range of motion and minimize the risk of getting yourself injured while running. Stretching also increases your flexibility. It is a widely known fact that running causes the muscles to strengthen shorten and tighten, which translates into a stiffer body. All professional runners pay a great deal of attention to their warm ups and stretches that they do.

Back And Yoga Stretches Running

Stretching is done both before and after running. Stretching done before running is important but not as important as stretches done after your run. Light stretches should be performed before running and at the end of your run, your run should be easy paced followed by stretching which will help you add strength to the most important muscle groups. Stretches for running most trainers and professionals follow are the flamingo stretch, wherein you stand on one foot and attempt to bend forward and touch your toes with your hand, while the other leg is held near your back by the opposite hand.  The hamstring stretch done while sitting also common where you sit with one leg outstretched and sole of the other leg touching your inner thigh. By bending forwards from the waist you experience a pull in the hamstring muscle. The heel dropping stretch is also popular wherein you stand on a raised platform on the front of your feet and slowly lower the heel, along with this the calf raise which is the exact opposite of this stretch needs to be performed wherein you raise your heel instead of lowering it. Alternate toe touching, standing with your legs crossed and touching your toes should also be incorporated.

Although stretches for running are important, alternatives like yoga and relaxation techniques are also helpful. Trikonasana – or the Triangle in which you stand with your feet slightly apart and bend sideways with outstretched arms until your hand reaches your foot is a very good yoga posture. Padangusthasana or the Big toe pose is another very popular posture which helps strengthen the hamstrings. Savasana I.e. the corpse is the best way to relieve stress and relax. This should be followed at the end of the workout.
Thus running either for recreation or competition should be injury free and beneficial for the body, the best way to ensure this is through stretching and warming up.

• RSS Feeds -
• All posts
• All comments