Resistance Stretching: for enhanced strength
Resistance stretching, is a form of conditioning, that contracts a
elongates it -- the opposite of an
exercise such as a
bicep curl, which causes
muscles to shorten.
Lengthening of the muscle is the crux of resistance
stretching, since it increases
flexibility within the joints and strengthens
muscles when they're at their weakest (elongated).
Resistance stretching centers on flexing your muscles even as you stretch
them; for example, instead of simply releasing a
leg lift, resist the urge to
let your quad muscles relax on the way down--and fight that urge with both your
hamstrings and your quads. Some of these
stretching moves can be done alone and
others with a partner whom you'd enlist to, say, pull your fist away from you as
you work to pull it in during a bicep curl.
The method proved valuable to Dara Torres, a U.S. Olympian and accidental
poster-child for the workout. At age 41, the swimmer won three silver medals in
the Beijing Games, and credits resistance stretching as a major player in the
training routine that helped send her to a fifth Olympics.
How different is resistance stretching from other limbering exercises? Unlike
holding a muscle in a passively stretched position, the resistance route
actively lengthens muscles through constant movement.
Benefits of the Resistance Stretching
offers immediate, cumulative, and permanent increases in flexibility
pain out of stretching
protects one from injuring themselves by over-stretching
results in gains in both strength and
improves performance accuracy
creates more powerful, explosive, and core stable movements
Increases in flexibility through Resistance Stretching also result in:
corrective realignment of bone rotational interrelationships
removing chronic joint
re-establishing optimal bio-mechanical efficiency
Resistance Stretching is the missing link in preventative medicine as it:
takes a proactive role in targeting specific areas of potential
removes chronic injuries
upgrades kinetic bio-mechanics with concomitant improvement in
physiological and psychological health
No other method, supplement, or technique can yield
better results than
exercises. All you need is to perform stretching exercises correctly and you
will grow stronger, more flexible, have greater range of motion, less
maybe even grow taller.
Stretching produces high amounts of human
secretion, which will thicken the cartilage and increase