If you are interested in improving the efficiency of your strength training sessions, you may want to make stretching a bigger priority. A recent study by researcher and author, Wayne Wescott, Ph.D., shows that stretching after your workout not only increases flexibility but improves strength as well.

Participants in a 10-week strength training program either paused to stretch between each machine or stretched after their workouts. Surprisingly they showed a 20% increase in strength over non-stretchers.

Dr. Westcott says there's no clear explanation yet for this finding; more research is needed to confirm it and understand the mechanism behind it.

As we age our range of motion often suffers due to lack of flexibility and stiffness and arthritis in the joints. Often we take the approach of avoiding movement-which is exactly the opposite of what we should do. The ideal approach is to incorporate a stretching routine into our exercise program.

Stretching has a host of benefits to the muscles, tendons and tissue surrounding the joints. A flexible joint may move farther in its range and requires less energy to do so.

Flexibility training (stretching) increases tissue temperature, which in turn increases circulation and nutrient transport. This allows greater elasticity of surrounding tissues. As a result there is an increased quantity and quality of synovial fluid, enabling more nutrients to get to the joint. The end result is more freedom of movement and a slowing in the process of arthritis.

Strong clinical evidence also indicates that lower back pain can be avoided or improved by stretching the hamstrings, hip flexors, and muscles attaching to the pelvis.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The cardiologist looked up from the treadmill report and grimly stated, "You are a walking time bomb. You need to go to the hospital immediately." Two days later a heart surgeon sawed open Gene Millen's chest and stitched in bypasses to six clogged arteries.

"A six way heart bypass isn't a record" said Gene, "but it's not bad for a skinny 59 year old with normal cholesterol and blood pressure. The villains and heroes in the heart attack melodrama may surprise you as they have me."

Gene Millen reviews new research on heart attack risks that are more dangerous than high cholesterol... and how natural supplements and heart vitamins can send them packing! Check out The Heart Health website at http://www.heart-health-for-life.com

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