If you are interested in performing muscle exercises and stretches, you might find this short article of interest. A number of people are aware of the benefits of the McKenzie exercise regime and it is definitely important to stretch your muscles to avoid problems in later years.

However, like many things in life, it's about balance and you must not overstretch your muscles, as this can lead to painful strains and muscle injuries.

Going through the multitude of "'on line' discourses on the benefits or otherwise of stretching it is difficult to separate and evaluate the numerous and contrary opinions expressed.

Here are some plain straight forward facts to help out readers.

There is absolutely no doubt that there are simple stretching routines within comfortable tolerance that are arguably essential preparation before embarking on strenuous exercise or sport.

These stretching movements help to gradually warm and loosen up muscles before the strains and shocks of running, twisting and jumping that might otherwise result in torn or sprained muscles.

This is the reason that all sports enthusiasts are recommended to carry out warming up routines that will usually involve some stretching of the muscles involved before play begins.

Stretching the back by simply standing or sitting upright with the shoulders pulled back, stomach in, chest out, will never do any harm whatever your age.

Good posture involves a degree of stretching and has the additional benefit of being easy to carry out wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

To help your body to stay supple and to avoid strain on muscles and joints, you should stand up tall and straight with good posture.

Stretching movements that you are comfortable with are a necessary prelude to running and other vigorous exercise.

If you are looking for information about muscle stretching, the following links may also be of interest to you:

More extreme stretching has provoked a variety of views from researchers, sports trainers et al.

Some are in the camp that expresses the view that over stretching is detrimental, that is stretching to the point where physical discomfort and a degree of pain is felt.

The effects may reduce muscle strength and endurance and reduce the ability to remove metabolic waste that in turn affects endurance and increases muscle fatigue.

On the other hand possible benefits include lower risk of injury, slows down the onset of muscle soreness, increase in muscle flexibility helps improve the performance of runners.

Conclusions about the real benefits, or otherwise, of extreme stretching is still unknown.

However, gentle stretching is also beneficial for the most lazy amongst us. If it's good enough for your dog or cat or other animals to stretch out and extend their paws, then it should be good enough for us mere humans. With animals in mind maybe stretching is the best exercise in the universe!

For more information and advice on exercise and various regimes please visit http://www.hotexercise.com/.

The views expressed in this website should be independently validated and Fetcher Limited does not accept any responsibility whatsoever for the accuracy or otherwise of the information provided. The contents do not constitute specific advice or guidance and should be viewed merely as an additional resource from which you can form your own opinion and draw your personal conclusions on the subject matter.  © Copyright Fetcher Limited 2006. All rights reserved