Five-minute stretching routine
Many people forget to stretch when they’re working out, so it’s all the more important to know the best stretches and incorporate them into your own routine.
After training, most people prefer to take a shower straight away instead of spending ten minutes to stretch their tired muscles. It’s not the end of the world, because there’s still no consensus on whether stretching after sport does you any good.
Stretching properly
Martina Kratzer, personal trainer at Zone4Performance in Winterthur, recommends that you dedicate a few minutes to mobility and stretching exercises or incorporate them into your workout routine. The latter approach is particularly beneficial for strength training, because it helps you do the exercises correctly and with your full range of motion. The following video will help you improve your flexibility whenever and wherever you are.
Stability vs. flexibility
When it comes to stretching and flexibility, many people think about shortened muscles. However, our joints are also affected because shortened muscles can limit their mobility or cause biomechanical strain. In fact, some joints require better mobility, while others need to build up stability. Here’s a quick overview:
Stability
Flexibility
You can find additional tips on stretching and sport-specific stretches for cyclists or runners in the online magazine.
Martina Kratzer, personal trainer
Martina plays in the Swiss national water polo team and is currently doing a masters in elite sports at the Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen. At Zone4Performance Winterthur she has turned her passion into her profession and supports athletes and private individuals in overcoming physical and mental limits to unlock their sporting potential.