5 Easy Stretching Techniques to Prevent Injury and Improve Flexibility

If you're going to be using a treadmill to burn fat and lose weight, then you'll want to make sure that you stretch your muscles before you begin. Stretching is important because it prevents injuries that could impede your performance.

It is best to fully stretch both before and after you begin walking on your treadmill. By stretching before your exercise you will help to warm your muscles allowing yourself extra flexibility, and by stretching afterwards you will help to prevent your muscles stiffening up.

Here are some excellent ways to ensure that your muscles are not injured while using your treadmill:

1. Never stretch until it hurts! The majority of people think that there's 'no gain without pain'. This is never the case - you should only ever stretch to a position that is comfortable for you, and then hold this position for about 20-30 seconds.

2. Breathe through your stretches. Some people hold their breath during their stretch routines, but when you practice deep breathing exercises, it helps you perform a deeper stretch for your muscles.

3. Many people see the stretching as a warm up, but it's really important that your muscles are actually warmed up before you stretch, so always walk or jog for a few minutes to get blood flowing to your muscles.

4. After your workout, you can stretch after you take a warm bath or shower. The hot water will help relax your muscles, and the after workout stretch will feel good.

5. Never bounce while you are stretching. You may have seen athletes on TV do this, but it is very dangerous because instead of stopping injuries you could actually cause yourself serious harm.

The most important muscles that you need to stretch are not always your leg muscles. Of course, it is important to stretch your calf muscles, quadriceps, and hamstrings, but you also need to stretch her shoulders, abs, neck, and back. Believe it or not, walking on a treadmill provides a full body workout.

Try to be a bit more creative than just bending over and trying to touch your toes. Add in some other stretching exercises such as the splits and lunges. You can even work in some calf stretches by standing on a step and then dropping your heels - be sure to stop before it becomes uncomfortable though.

Whenever you stretch, make your movements slow and precise for the best results. You want to keep some tension on the muscles to help them stretch, but never stretch to the point where you're in pain.

Treadmill walking to lose weight is a fantastic first step (no pun intended) after you get those muscles stretched! Get treadmill workout tips and strategies as well as detailed reviews of the best treadmills here.