Benefits of stretching after a workout

Most people leave out stretching at the end of a workout but here is why it is crucial to include.

• Lengthen the muscles- after a hard chest workout for example all the muscle fibres need stretching out to ensure the chest muscles are lengthened which helps give the chest a large hanging shape which most people are after.  Most bodybuilders and weight lifters never stretch hence the crunched up hunchback like appearance .
• Injury prevention- stretching muscles out at the end of a workout helps ensure your muscles are lengthened making it less likely you will have an injury due to a tight muscle having a small range of movement.
• Better range of movement for future workouts- like with stretching prior to a workout stretching at the end of a workout ensures your muscles are lengthened giving you a fuller range of motion so you can perform exercises throughout the full rep range.
• Increased blood flow- stretching helps ensure the muscles are given a good full blood flow something very important to muscular development as the blood supplies the nutrition you need for growth.