These expert-backed stretches will loosen tight hamstrings and protect your lower back. “The reason to stretch your hamstrings is to keep your hips and lower back moving freely,” explains James Brady, ...

Everyone who exercises regularly is aware they should warm up prior to jumping into their workout. But should the warm-up include stretching? The common belief is that stretching makes you more ...

For many people of a certain age, high school gym class began with reaching for their toes. Then, over the years, we were told it was better to stretch after exercise. It turns out, both those things ...

Medically reviewed by Raynetta Samuels, PT, DPT, CLT Stretching improves muscle flexibility and overall mobility, which are ...

Shoulder stretches are great for improving flexibility in the upper body. Start by extending one arm across your chest. Use ...

You know the drill: Warm up and stretch out those muscles before hopping on the treadmill or bike or whatever your exercise of choice may happen to be. Right? Right! Except that two new studies have ...

Research backs this up: A systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2024 in Sports Medicine says that acute static ...

One pose that came up as a relief for tight hip flexors in my last yoga class was the tortoise pose, so I tried adding this ...

There seems to be a lot of confusion regarding the value—or lack thereof—of muscle stretching to accelerate recovery after exercise. “Stretching clears out your lactic acid,” and other similar claims ...

Some experts say stretching before exercise helps performance and lessens injuries. But, believe it or not, others say stretching does the opposite. Who’s right? Proponents point to people who can’t ...

Stop viewing stretching as a separate activity. By integrating these five active, strength-based hip exercises, you are not ...