Workout stretches: What’s best before and after? [Video]

As you head into the gym, you likely already have a workout plan in mind. Maybe you’re taking a light jog on the treadmill, or you’re working on some bicep curls on arm’s day. To get the most out of your gym session, consider first how you start and end your workouts.

Muscles need time to warm up, and stretching helps circulate more blood to those areas, allowing for a greater range of motion and flexibility. More flexibility increases performance, especially when doing actions that require bending, contraction and pulling. Stretching also helps lower the risk of injury.

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“A lot of people like to jump right into the workout, but stretching before and after is what’s going to determine how effective your workout can be for today and the next time you do it,” …