Why skipping the most important part of your exercise routine could make you more prone to injury…
It’s hard to be a couch potato when you live in the Sunshine State, especially now that spring has arrived! Whether I decide to go for a walk with my dog, bike through Flatwoods Park, or go for a jog in my neighborhood, I love living a healthy lifestyle outside. But before I start any exercise, I do what most people frequently forget…stretching!
Stretching is a fundamental part of exercise, yet so many people don’t want to stretch or think it’s not that big of a deal to skip it and go straight to the work-out. Because stretching doesn’t really do anything, right? Wrong!
I incorporate stretching into my daily routine not only because it relieves stress and tension, but it also helps reduce the risk of injury during the workouts I love the most. The hamstrings and calf muscles are often neglected during stretching, especially in runners and cyclists. If the hamstrings and calf muscles are not stretched appropriately before and after working out, exercise enthusiast are setting themselves up for lower extremity problems such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and ITBS (iliotibial band syndrome).
So what stretching should you do? A runner’s stretch is probably the most common stretching technique for increasing flexibility to the Achilles tendon. But performing forward bends whether sitting or standing are the ultimate hamstring and Achilles stretch. Many people think that because they can’t touch their toes during a forward bend that they are not getting anything out of the stretch which is entirely not true! Hold stretches for 5-10 seconds each placing a sustained stretch on the legs and not bouncing. Maybe you can’t reach past your knees initially, but before long you’ll be able to touch your toes, and you’ll notice that nagging pain in the bottom or back of your heel will resolve as well!
Try incorporating more stretching into your exercise routine before and after you’ve finished working out. If stretching isn’t completely alleviating the pain, then you should call Advanced Podiatry at 813-875-055 and let Drs. Katz and Johnston determine the best treatment options for you to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle!
