Stretching

Your day started out really great. Then as soon as you got in your car, everything went downhill. You ran into unexpected traffic, now you’re going to be late. Then of course the only parking...

The piriformis muscle is deep muscle in the hip and buttocks. When tight, it can cause pain in the lower back and hips. Stretching the piriformis daily can help relieve and prevent pain. It is...

Many people complain of tight calf muscles that do not seem to be relieved by stretching. This article is intended to trouble shoot reasons that this stretching may not be offering relief.

The piriformis muscle connects the pelvis to the hip ball joint. It supports your legs' forward and backward movements during running or walking. Stretching or exercising the piriformis can add...

The lower back can often be the focal point of a person's balance or strength, especially when he does heavy lifting or constant physical work. The pain may not hurt during the day but can be...

The sartorius muscle is a narrow ribbon of a muscle that winds from your hip, around the inside of your thigh, then connects at the inside of your knee. It is used during every motion of the upper...

Focus on breathing during the Knee Hug Stretch. Learn how to do the Knee Hug Stretch exercise from a fitness trainer in this free workout video.

The wall hamstring stretch provides a safe and effective way to stretch the muscles in the back of the thigh. Oftentimes people stretch these muscles by standing and bending forward which can...

Do you ever feel like your back is really tight, and all you need is a good back cracking? Try this technique to do it all on your own.

Illiotibial Band Syndrome, or ITBS, is a pain that is mostly felt by runners. The ITB is a ligament or band that extends from the outside of the hip to the outside of the knee. Some runners will...

One muscle that back pain sufferers often overlook is the piriformis. This muscle comprises the majority of your lower back and attaches to your gluteus. If pulled, the piriformis can make every...

Stretching after a workout can help prevent pulled muscles and also help relieve soreness. Here is how you can stretch your hip flexor muscles.

Lunge stretches are essential for anyone involved in sports or martial arts and are also a part of stretching routines for aerobic workouts. Lunges are excellent for stretching the quadriceps and...

Always stretch before doing any kind of exercising to avoid pulling muscles. Here's a few easy stretches you can do.

Here is an exercise you can do with a physioball to stretch your buttocks and hamstring muscles. There is a similar stretch that is commonly done in fitness classes without the ball that can also...

The inner thigh muscles are often neglected in many workout programs. It is difficult to find good stretches to loosen these muscles. However, when the muscles of the legs become tight there is...

The spinal twist is a common yoga posture that is very effective in stretching and releasing the muscles of the back. Since you usually stretch your arms out to the sides, it can also help to open...

Stretching your muscles and joints is important to perform before physical activity. Properly stretching can prevent injury or help to rehabilitate an injured part of the body. Hip joints can be...

The hamstring muscles, which are located on the back top of the thigh, are tight on many people. They are prone to injury and strains. When these muscles become overly tight, they can pull on the...

Rowing is an activity that affects so many muscles groups. Therefore, it’s important to warm up and stretch the entire body to prevent injury. This stretching routine should be performed on...

An essential factor towards achieving overall fitness is flexibility, but it is often disregarded. Flexibility improves joint mobility, range of motion, balance and performance. The quadriceps are...

Hip flexor muscles work together to move your leg towards your abdominal area. Tight and weak hip flexors can become burdensome, eventually causing low back pain. Take the time to stretch your hip...

The following three exercises specifically work to stretch the outer thigh muscles to protect against strain or muscle pulls. In particular, warming up the outer thigh, to help prevent knee...

Stretching during pregnancy can relieve aches and pains, prevent new ones from arriving and help your body stay strong and flexible for your delivery. Here are some favorite stretches to try (with...

Long-distance running is, contrary to common sense, a common sport among slackers. I have some ideas why. To run fast for a long time, you have to be resistant to the build-up of tension. Also,...

Follow these instructions for a stretch you can do for the chest using a doorway in your house. It's a deep stretch that you can start slowly and easily. As with all stretches, remember to not...

Hip flexors don't produce as much power as your hamstrings or quads, but they provide an important link between your upper and lower bodies during running and jumping. Flexible hip flexors allow...

Sitting at a computer all day can lead to some stiff and unpleasant afternoons. Take a few minutes to stretch areas of your body such as your hips. This helps maintain flexibility, prevent...

Gymnasts and dancers often incorporate right and left splits into their practices and performances to increase flexibility and add fluidity to their moves. While many gymnasts and dancers seem to...

One of the best things that you can do for your body is to properly stretch before and after every workout session. Learning how to do hip and knee warm-up stretches isn't very complicated; all...

Stretching both before and after your exercise routine should be regular practice to help increase flexibility, improve performance and reduce the risk of injury. The groin is one of the most...

Gastrocnemius, or the gastroc, is a large curving muscle that has its insertion point just above your knee. Gastrocnemius is often forgotten in stretching and strengthening routines; however it...

Gastrocnemius, or the gastroc, is a calf muscle that has it's insertion point just above the knee joint. Because of it's location, stress and tightness in the gastroc can cause strain and tension...

Strengthening and stretching the muscles above and below the knee joint are the core elements of knee therapy. In order to have a strong and healthy knee, the muscles surrounding the joint must...

Keep your legs flexible and strong by performing leg stretches before and after your workout. Stretching also removes lactic acid, which will help reduce muscle soreness after working out. Be...

The four muscles that make up the front of the thigh are called the quads. Stretching them can prevent injuries and may help reduce soreness. Stretching the quads may also be helpful as part of a...

The muscles on the front of your legs (quadriceps and the shin muscles) are the strength for your legs. The muscles on the back of your legs (hamstrings) are the ones that allow you to slow down...

Baseball is one of the safest sports that you can play, but you are still not perfectly safe from injuries. The very nature of the game (long periods of inactivity followed by explosive movements)...

Your core muscles are important not just for exercising but for keeping you upright. Stretching these muscles helps prevent back pain and injury and keeps your core muscles flexible and strong....

Stand taller and kick further with more flexible hamstring muscles–—the 3 powerful posterior thigh muscles. With the simple stretch below, your muscles will be in optimum shape for almost any...

Skiing requires lateral as well as vertical movement. Stretching your thighs well helps them react to directional changes.