10 errores del ejercicio de stretching

1
by James A. Peterson, Ph.D., FACSM 10 Common Mistakes Made by Individuals Who Engage in Stretching Exercise ACSM’S HEALTH & FITNESS JOURNAL 1 1 Not warming up before stretching. Because stretching cold muscles increases your chances of injuring yourself, you should always warm up (i.e., perform activities that will increase your body temperature enough to ‘‘warm’’ you up sufficiently to safely begin exercising) before stretching. Contrary to popular belief, stretching is not a warm-up. 2 Not stretching the muscles you’re trying to stretch. Too many people don’t stretch what they think they’re stretching because they don’t perform their flexibility exercises properly. More often than not, either they don’t know how to do a particular exercise properly, or they make an inappropriate adjustment in their body position when stretching. 3 Not watching how much pressure you place on your ligaments. Unfortunately, some people stretch their ligaments too much (rather than stretching their muscles) when performing stretching exercises. As a result, they develop excessive ligament looseness. As such, when you’re stretching, you should always avoid holding your joints in a position that places too much weight or pressure on your ligaments. 4 Not watching how much weight you place on your joint capsules. While stretching, if you place more weight on your joints than they can safely stand, you increase the likelihood that you may damage them. Accordingly, you should avoid activities that can injure your joints, such as standing toe touches. 5 Not performing a balanced stretching regimen. To avoid the consequences of stretching unequally (e.g., the muscles that receive inadequate attention tend to tighten and shorten, causing such notable conditions as rounded shoulders), it is essential that you don’t stretch in one direction without balancing out that effort by also stretching in the opposite direction. 6 Not performing each stretching exercise slowly and smoothly. You should avoid using fast, jerky, or bouncing movements when performing stretching exercises. Doing so may force your muscles to stretch to an unsafe range of motion before your nervous system has time to protect them by signaling your muscle(s) to contract. 7 Not stretching to the point of maximum extension. When you stretch, you should move your body or body segment at a controlled speed through its maximum range of motion. You reach this point when you place a mild—but not painful—stretch on the muscles. On each subsequent repetition, you should attempt to go a little bit farther, while again avoiding pain and overstretching. 8 Not performing an appropriate amount of stretching exercise. A certain degree of subjectivity exists concerning what constitutes too much or too little stretching exercise. As a rule, it is recommended that you perform stretching exercises for each of the major areas of your body. ACSM recommends that individuals perform static stretches with each stretch being held for approximately 10 to 30 seconds each. Generally, static stretches are preferred because the risk of injury is low, and they require minimal time and little assistance. 9 Not stretching often enough. At a minimum, most fitness experts recommend that stretching exercises should be performed four to five times per week, and preferably daily. As a rule, because most flexibility gains are (far too) easily lost, the basic rule of thumb is that you should stretch often. 10 Not understanding that being flexible is not synonymous with being in good shape. Flexibility is just one of the essential components of physical fitness. As such, you should combine aerobic exercise, strengthening exercises, and adherence to sound nutritional practices with your stretching exercises in order to ‘‘attain and sustain’’ a desirable level of fitness. James A. Peterson, Ph.D., FACSM, is a freelance writer and consultant in sports medicine. From 1990 until 1995, Dr. Peterson was director of sports medicine with StairMaster. Until that time, he was professor of physical education at the United States Military Academy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ (cut, copy, and distribute to students, clients, patients) A 2005 by the American College of Sports Medicine. Reprint permission is granted to subscribers of ACSM’S Health & Fitness Journal A . CALL 800-486-5643 TO SUBSCRIBE OR JOIN 44 ACSM’S HEALTH & FITNESS JOURNAL A JULY/AUGUST 2005 VOL. 9, NO. 4 www.acsm-healthfitness.org Copyr ight © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthor iz ed reproduction of this article is prohibited.

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Page 1: 10 Errores del Ejercicio de Stretching

by James A. Peterson, Ph.D., FACSM

10 Common Mistakes Made by Individuals

Who Engage in Stretching ExerciseACSM’S HEALTH & FITNESS JOURNAL1

1Not warming up beforestretching. Because stretchingcold muscles increases your chances

of injuring yourself, you should always

warm up (i.e., perform activities thatwill increase your body temperature

enough to ‘‘warm’’ you up sufficientlyto safely begin exercising) before

stretching. Contrary to popular belief,stretching is not a warm-up.

2Not stretching the musclesyou’re trying to stretch. Toomany people don’t stretch what

they think they’re stretching becausethey don’t perform their flexibility

exercises properly. More often thannot, either they don’t know how to do

a particular exercise properly, or theymake an inappropriate adjustment in

their body position when stretching.

3Not watching how muchpressure you place on yourligaments. Unfortunately, some

people stretch their ligaments too much

(rather than stretching their muscles)when performing stretching exercises.

As a result, they develop excessiveligament looseness. As such, when

you’re stretching, you should alwaysavoid holding your joints in a position

that places too much weight orpressure on your ligaments.

4Not watching how muchweight you place on yourjoint capsules. While

stretching, if you place more weighton your joints than they can safely

stand, you increase the likelihoodthat you may damage them.

Accordingly, you should avoid

activities that can injure your joints,

such as standing toe touches.

5Not performing a balancedstretching regimen. To avoid

the consequences of stretchingunequally (e.g., the muscles that receive

inadequate attention tend to tightenand shorten, causing such notable

conditions as rounded shoulders),it is essential that you don’t stretch in

one direction without balancing outthat effort by also stretching in theopposite direction.

6Not performing each stretchingexercise slowly and smoothly.

You should avoid using fast,jerky, or bouncing movements when

performing stretching exercises. Doingso may force your muscles to stretch to

an unsafe range of motion before yournervous system has time to protect them

by signaling your muscle(s) to contract.

7Not stretching to the point ofmaximum extension. When

you stretch, you should moveyour body or body segment at a

controlled speed through its maximumrange of motion. You reach this point

when you place a mild—but notpainful—stretch on the muscles.

On each subsequent repetition, youshould attempt to go a little bit farther,while again avoiding pain and

overstretching.

8Not performing anappropriate amount ofstretching exercise. A certain

degree of subjectivity exists concerningwhat constitutes too much or too

little stretching exercise. As a rule,

it is recommended that you perform

stretching exercises for each of themajor areas of your body. ACSMrecommends that individuals perform

static stretches with each stretch beingheld for approximately 10 to 30

seconds each. Generally, staticstretches are preferred because the risk

of injury is low, and they requireminimal time and little assistance.

9Not stretching often enough.At a minimum, most fitnessexperts recommend that

stretching exercises should beperformed four to five times per

week, and preferably daily. As a rule,because most flexibility gains are

(far too) easily lost, the basic ruleof thumb is that you should

stretch often.

10Not understanding thatbeing flexible is notsynonymous with being

in good shape. Flexibility is just one

of the essential components ofphysical fitness. As such, you

should combine aerobic exercise,strengthening exercises, and adherence

to sound nutritional practices withyour stretching exercises in order to

‘‘attain and sustain’’ a desirable levelof fitness.

James A. Peterson, Ph.D., FACSM, is afreelance writer and consultant in sportsmedicine. From 1990 until 1995, Dr.Peterson was director of sports medicinewith StairMaster. Until that time, hewas professor of physical education at theUnited States Military Academy.

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A 2005 by the American College of Sports Medicine. Reprint permission is granted to subscribers of ACSM’S Health & Fitness JournalA. CALL 800-486-5643 TO SUBSCRIBE OR JOIN

44 ACSM’S HEALTH & FITNESS JOURNALA JULY/AUGUST 2005 VOL. 9, NO. 4www.acsm-healthfitness.org

Copyr ight © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.