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After a demanding workout session - while wearing your CORESHORTS™, of course - you probably feel like you are ready to move on with your day. But did you stretch… BEFORE and AFTER your workout? 

Stretching offers many great health benefits and should be included as part of your daily workout routine.  Stretching before exercise helps your body prepare to move. After the workout, stretching helps your body and muscles recover, while improving your posture, flexibility, and performance (to name just a few benefits).

Why Stretching Is Important 

Let’s explore some reasons why stretching is so important. Here are five reasons why you should always stretch—before and after—a workout session:

1. Increased flexibility and range of motion

Regular stretching is known to increase your flexibility and your range of motion. Flexibility is crucial for your overall health. It helps you perform everyday activities with ease, and it also can help delay reduced mobility as you age. By incorporating stretching as a standard part of your workout routine, your overall flexibility will improve!

Stretching a muscle or groups of muscles through a patterned motion or PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) is effective for immediate gains. Having a full range of motion equals freedom of movement and stretching can help get you there!

Related > Ways to Increase Range of Motion 

2. Improved Sports Performance

Many of our CORESHORTS™ customers are active athletes. Exercising and sports require a wider degree of flexibility and range of motion at the joint. Having increased flexibility will improve your sports performance and will also help to decrease the chances of injury.

3. Decreased Injury and Increased Blood Flow

As just mentioned, stretching can helps to prevent injuries. Stretching before and after exercising, especially dynamic (active) stretching, prepares your body for activity.

When you stretch, you are increasing the blood flow to your muscles by improving your circulation. But why is this important? Increased blood flow to your muscles may help shorten recovery time and reduce onset muscle soreness.

4. Improved Posture and Back Pain Relief

Having poor posture may lead to muscle aches and body pain. Proper muscle balance and alignment are known to improve posture. By stretching daily, you can loosen your muscles and reduce the risk of muscle strains and injury, which can lead to decreased back pain. If you already have an injury, stretching an existing injury or back pain will help improve the recovery time. Never stretch into pain!

5. Stress Relief

One of the biggest holistic benefits of stretching is the decrease in stress. Physical and emotional stress can impact your exercise recovery and lessen the benefits of exercise. In fact, the overproduction of the stress hormone cortisol can actually result in health issues.  Stretching allows your muscles as well as your mind to relax, so you perform at your personal best.

Stability Starts at CORESHORTS™ 

At CORESHORTS™, we are passionate about our product and can guarantee you enhanced core support and functional movement. Combine that with regular stretching, before and after your workout, and you will be on the top of your game!

Range of motion: The full movement potential of a joint, usually its range of flexion and extension.

When you have a limited range of motion (ROM), your overall performance of desired activities is also limited. If you are training for a big race, hockey game, or triathlon, limited ROM can lead to overcompensation and possible injury. Weeks (or months) of rehab isn’t worth it the chance, that’s why we’re sharing ways to increase your ROM. 

Limited Range of Motion 

It’s nearly instinctual to stretch...until you get that pain in your back or shoulder. Limited ROM simply refers to a joint in your body that has a reduction in its ability to function properly. Example: a knee may lack 10 degrees of full extension due to a past sports injury.  

The reduced motion may be a mechanical problem with the specific joint, or it may be the result of past injury or disease. Most commonly, health issues such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other types of arthritis may impact your ROM. 

Stretching can be used to improve ROM of joints, and, as we’re sure you’ve noticed in your training regimen, is also a preventative measure. Why? If ROM is limited asymmetrically in the hamstrings, then your body can overcompensate, and it could lead to a pelvic torsion and lower back pain. When this occurs, you are taking chances with risking injury.  

CORESHORTSTM patented technology not only helps top athletes prevent injury, but it allows people who have injuries from compensating for lack of ROM and mobility. Check out our selection of premium compression shorts!

Why is full ROM important? 

A joint MUST go through its full ROM daily to remain healthy. If movement is limited, synovial fluid, which is a nutrient-rich and internal lubricating fluid, cannot properly circulate to protect your joints. Eventually, this will cause stiffness, joint and/or muscle dysfunction, and joint deterioration. 

A full ROM will increase flexibility, strength, muscle tone, and will help expend more calories. Other benefits of ROM exercises include: 

• Improved Circulation 
• Enhanced Muscle Strength 
• Maintained or Increased Flexibility
• Reduced Pain and Stiffness 
• Better Sports Performance 
• Decreased Injury Potential 

Pro athletes, amateurs, and elite weekend warriors alike all agree that compression shorts prevent injury and also enhance performance. The purpose and design of CORESHORTS™ are what differentiates them from regular compression shorts and makes them UNIQUE! Experience better performance and prevent possible injury by finding out which tier of compression best suits you. 

Ways to Improve Range of Motion

Here are four stretching methods to improve your ROM: 

 
Static Stretching  

Static stretching is basically holding muscle tissue in an elongated form.  At minimum, you should hold the stretch for 30- to 60-seconds at a mild to moderate discomfort level.  

Remember: Static stretching before athletic training may cause loss of performance.  When gaining ROM, then static stretching should be performed, after activity or separately. 

Dynamic Stretching 

Active stretching is where you are moving in and out of your available ROM. Think side lunges, trunk twists, and toy soldier kicks. When integrated into your warm-up, dynamic stretching can improve ROM. 

Myofascial Release  

Foam rolling may also help improve joint ROM. Unlike static stretching, it can be performed before or after training. Many athletes will choose foam rolling for post-workout to help with recovery time.   

Hold/Relax 

This form of stretching is called Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF). It’s a quick and effective method to increase ROM. While there are several types of PNF stretches, the hold/relax technique is easiest. All you do is move the joint or muscle to a point of feeling a light stretch and then hold for about 10 seconds.  After that, progress further a little more into the stretch and hold for about another 30 seconds.   

Remember: Stretching is critical to maintaining joint flexibility and ROM.  However, you should only feel a mild stretch, not pain!

Stability Starts with CORESHORTS™ 

Experience the difference of CORESHORTS™. Our Core Activation System "X" provides enhanced core support, improved stability, and optimizing ROM. 

Our patented core activation system features:  

• Revolutionary X band design (which mimics the functional anatomy of the body's core area to boost performance) 
• Anti-odor technology prevents the growth of odor-causing microbes
• Smooth, chafe-free flatlock seam construction 

Three levels available to suit any level of athlete - stability starts at CORESHORTS ™!