At Healthspace Clinics, many patients are referred for physiotherapy for having sustained some sort of injury from their competitive game over the weekend. Time and time again, I hear “I’m too stiff, it’s not like when I was a kid anymore”. As a Physiotherapist, one of the biggest questions I constantly get is – how should I stretch before we play?
Back in the day, people use to hold a stretch for anywhere up to a minute as it helps ‘loosen the muscle’ and get them ready for sport. What we know today, and the current literature suggests otherwise.
A functional dynamic stretching program dependant on you sport is the way to go. Studies show that dynamic, or movement based stretching is a great way to warm up as it not only helps improve range of motion but also improves the power output from those muscles. In stretching a muscle dynamically; i.e with some walking lunges or high knees, you are preparing the muscle to be used in a functional way needed for your sport.
Our highly experienced practitioners here in Healthspace can help tailor a warm up routine specific to your sporting requirement.
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact us.
Isaac Serhan
Physiotherapist
Available for consults Monday – Friday at the Kings Cross & Kingsford clinics
Kings Cross: 02 8354 1534
Kingsford: 02 9663 2151
