Over-Stretching

It’s very important never to overstretch your muscles, no matter how enthusiastic you are about becoming more flexible.

Signs of over stretching

• Feeling a burning sensation while you are stretching
• Feeling the muscle tearing/pulling strongly while you are stretching rather than a slight pull
• Over-bearing or shooting pain occurs while stretching
• Swelling in the muscle after you have stretched it
• A sudden decrease in athletic output/performance

Tips to avoid over stretching:

1. Always warm up before you stretch.

2. When holding a stretch, make sure that you do it for no more than 30-60 seconds.

3. Avoid bouncing while stretching (especially with hamstring muscles).

4. Stretch within your comfort zone.

And remember, always take slow and deep breaths while you are stretching and relax your body.