| Everyone knows it's a good idea to always stretch | | | | exercises.Know How Flexible You AreIf you know |
| your muscles prior to exercising, but did you know | | | | how flexible you are then you can know if you're |
| stretching might also help reduce leg cramps? Here | | | | prone to getting leg cramps or even a lower leg |
| are some good tips to proper stretching that will | | | | injury like an Achilles injury.How do you test your |
| lower your chances of getting leg cramps.Before | | | | flexibility? For your calf muscles you should sit on the |
| beginning any exercise or workout routine you should | | | | ground with your legs stretched out in front of you. |
| always stretch your muscle groups for at least a | | | | Keep your knees straight and grab the top of your |
| minute. The best way to accomplish this is to | | | | feet, pulling them toward you. You should be able to |
| gradually stretch out your muscles. Don't stretch so | | | | pull them back 90 degrees without discomfort.If it |
| hard and fast that you injure yourself by tearing the | | | | feels tight then you know that you need to |
| muscle. Slowly stretch and increase every 10 seconds | | | | concentrate on exercising and stretching these |
| until you can't stretch any further and then hold it for | | | | muscles. Spend a little extra time stretching and you'll |
| 30 seconds.According to David Joyce, a resident | | | | notice the results immediately.If you live in a colder |
| sports massage therapist, you should utilize a very | | | | climate you may need to spend more time stretching |
| light 10-minute warm up period at 50% effort. Then | | | | than you would in a warm climate. The colder air |
| follow that up with 10 minutes of stretches. David | | | | tightens your muscles. Keep that in mind on those |
| has found that up to 70% of leg cramps and injuries | | | | cooler days.I know that 10 minutes can seem like a |
| can be prevented by following these tips. This applies | | | | lot of time to warm up, so you may want to start |
| to runners, football players and basketball | | | | out with a slow jog. After a few minutes you can |
| players.David also mentions that a combination of | | | | begin stretching and even mix in a yoga routine. By |
| massage and stretching will work the best. When you | | | | adding the yoga to your stretching you can warm up |
| watch an NBA basketball game you will notice that | | | | your muscles quicker without the risk of getting a leg |
| during warm-ups the players stretch and trainers will | | | | cramp or muscle injury. Be sure to end any workout |
| massage the players legs.Of course, most of us don't | | | | or exercise routine with stretching.If you will add a |
| have a personal trainer or massage therapist on hand | | | | good stretching routine before any sporting event or |
| to help us, but you can do some of this yourself with | | | | exercise program, you'll reduce the risk of getting |
| a little massage therapy basics. Read up on it and | | | | those painful leg cramps. And that makes things |
| apply some of the principles. It will greatly reduce the | | | | much more fun in the long run. |
| possibility of getting leg cramps during | | | | |