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Thoughts On Stretching
Compiled
by Nic McCallum
The most important reason for stretching is to
improve or maintain the range of motion of a body joint. This becomes
increasingly important when considering a performance-based sport such as
swimming. If you have a
greater range of motion through your swimming stroke you will be able to
generate force through the stroke for a longer period of time, which
should make you a more efficient swimmer.
Efficiency is also the key
as your flexibility allows your body to move in its most productive manner
without compensating elsewhere.
For example, at the end of recovery of the breaststroke kick it is
desirable to
have your feet close to your backside and square to the direction of your
swimming, if you don’t have the range in your hips and knees you may try
to compensate by changing your back position.
This in turn places your body in an inefficient position to
generate and receive the massive force out of the kick.
As
well, the process of training consists of the breakdown
and repair of the muscle tissue.
Unless this repaired tissue is stretched as part of the training process, it
will tighten or shorten. The
important point is that if you are going to train and perform at your optimum
level, stretching should be an integral part of your training regime.
Click on the buttons to the left to learn more about stretching some of
the important muscle groups for swimming.
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