We all are aware that Stretching is an important part of exercise, but what kind of stretching should you do you do before your exercise?  Or after you exercise? To answer those questions, let’s explore the types of stretching and discuss everything you need to know about stretching. To begin with, there are three main types of stretching: Static stretching: is used to stretch muscles while the body is static, meaning that the body is not moving. A muscle is gradually lengthened to an elongated position (to the point of mild discomfort) and that position is held for a period of time, usually 30 seconds to two minutes. Dynamic stretching: is a method of stretching that increases the range of movement, blood and oxygen flow to soft tissues prior to exertion by actively lengthening the muscle. It is done by controlled movements that bring a muscle close to its full range of motion, such as by swinging or twisting. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching: is a set of stretching techniques commonly used in clinical environments.  This kind of stretching is also known as active/passive stretching or contract/relax stretching. A professional applies resistance to counteract the force being exerted by the client on the target muscle. […]

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