Care Guides

Return to Index Step 1: Welcome Step 2: The Benefits Of Exercise Step 3: Before You Begin Step 4: How Much Exercise is Enough?Step 5: Types Of Exercise Step 6: Why Use Weights?Step 7: Warm Up, Cool Down, And Stretch Step 8: Stay Safe Step 9: Just Getting Out the Door Step 10: Overcoming Roadblocks Key Points MedTest Glossary

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Stretches

Stretch after your warm up and again after your workout to help your muscles recover from what you have just done. Stretch until you feel a gentle tension in your muscle. You should not feel pain in either the muscle or joint. If you do, ease up the tension -- you may be hurting yourself. Hold the stretch for 10 - 20 seconds without moving (but remember to breathe). Don't bounce! Bouncing during a stretch can tear the muscle.

These are some types of stretches you should do. Though it is not a complete list (it does not cover all the major muscle groups), it should help you in the beginning.

Hamstrings (back of leg)	Hip
Groin	Thigh
Triceps (back of arm)	Upper arm and chest

Review Date: 3/12/2007
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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