Wondering if you’re free to stretch too much?
Introducing overstretching: If youre sore after a stretch sesh, you might have gone too far.
And indeed, itsnot a good thing to never stretch.
But is overstretching a thing, and can you stretchtoomuch?
An overly enthusiastic approach can lead to overstretching.
But its definitely not the end-all, be-all, or the answer to every problem.
What counts as overstretching?
The term overstretching can refer to a couple differentstretching mistakes.
It can also mean a muscle is stretched past its point of natural elasticity and healthy tissue length.
Of course, too much is a subjective phrase.
Its tissue tolerance, says Harrison.
Where overstretching is most common
People are most likely to overdo it with their hamstrings.
vice president of education atStretchLab
Those smaller muscles are more likely to get overlooked and need attention.
For small muscles, such as wrists and neck, aim for a 3 to 5 stretch.
Your aiming point on the scale will start to lower as your body adapts to stretching.
You also may be overstretching if a certain move makes you feel vulnerable, Croce says.
But holding for much longer than a minute is unlikely to offer additional benefits.
But its actually more helpful to get movingjust be gentle with yourself.
Dr. Mehta also recommends doing some easydynamic stretcheswhere you only hold for a few seconds at most.
Motion is the lotion for the joints and for the muscles, she says.
The last thing you want to do is be sedentary.
That will make everything much more stiff.
She adds that using some ice and heat can also help your muscles feel better faster.
Mobility and stability drills can also increase control over your flexibility.
Croce sayscontrolled articular rotations(CARS) are excellent drills for mobility.
Listen to your body, and feel where youre hitting that resistance, says Dr. Mehta.
When your muscles yell enough!
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