Stretching Anatomy

Flexibility is known to bring positive benefits to the muscles and joints. It
aids in injury prevention, helps minimize muscle soreness, and improves
efficiency in all physical activities. This is especially true for people whose
exercise sessions, whether a recreational game of golf or a more strenuous
weekend game of basketball, are more than four days apart. Increasing
flexibility can also improve quality of life and functional independence.
People whose daily lifestyle consists of long sessions of inactivity such as
sitting at a desk can experience a stiffening of the joints so that it is difficult
to straighten out of that chronic position. Flexibility helps prevent this by
maintaining the elasticity of the muscles and providing a wider range of
movements in the joints. It also provides fluidity and ease in body movements
and everyday activities. A simple daily task such as bending over
and tying your shoes is easier when you are flexible.
The third edition of Stretching Anatomy has 10 new stretches to provide even
more options for improving flexibility. The four new stretches of the foot
and ankle can help to relieve foot problems, especially when sitting for long
periods. To help with shoulder problems, three additional static stretches
and one new dynamic stretch are available. The chapter on stretches for
specific activities has been divided into two chapters. Chapter 10 contains
programs to increase flexibility and mobility that will improve performance
of activities of daily living and includes stretches for people who sit or stand
on their feet all day. Chapter 11 is a new sport-specific chapter and includes
stretches for three additional sports.