An updated edition of the best-selling guide on the science of effective stretching—with detailed anatomical illustrations and guidance on proper form, sports injury recovery, and more
The multiple stresses of contemporary life—whether from excessive sports play, overwork, or overuse of technology—are increasingly taking a toll on the body. Symptoms range from muscle soreness and pain to pinched nerves to potentially more permanent disabilities, including serious body injuries. One safe, quickly productive way to address the problem is through a simple therapy that can be done anywhere, anytime, and without special equipment: stretching. This new edition of Brad Walker’s best-selling book on the subject presents 135 unique stretching exercises designed to help repair the body and make it more flexible, fit, and relaxed.
Organized by body part, The Anatomy of Stretching presents stretching exercises in a uniform style accompanied by full-color anatomical illustrations. Equally useful for fitness fans, pro or amateur athletes, coaches and personal trainers, and healthcare practitioners, this new edition contains:
• Step-by-step instructions for 20 new stretches
• An expanded physiology and anatomy information
• A revised numbering system that makes the stretches easier to reference
• An expanded appendix with more resources on stretches for athletes and sports injuries
Also featuring detailed descriptions of important principles of anatomy and physiology, The Anatomy of Stretching, Second Edition is the ultimate guide to improving flexibility, increasing strength, and relieving pain through stretching.
The stretches are all doable. I have gotten other books that want you to twist like a pretzel.
I have found that I sometimes need to release trigger points, prior to stretching. Rolling on a tennis ball is usually all I need, but a back buddy or something similar is nice to have.
So I picked up this book and went through the shoulder and arm stretches. I probably only did each stretch for 15 seconds or so, but there are quite a few of them and so the routine was rather comprehensive. Immediately I felt the muscle tightness had been vastly decreased. The next day, prior to my workout, I went through the stretches again, and lo and behold, felt no discomfort in any of my weightlifting exercises.
I can't recommend this book highly enough to people who have tight, sore muscles. I spent almost twice as much money on a bottle of pills that were supposed to help with joint soreness and it basically did nothing for me. The stretches in this book fixed me up completely in only a day.
Each stretch is clearly illustrated and the instructions are easy to understand. It's been great! I keep it by my bed and flip through it often. As a result I've developed a complete bedtime ritual to help relax and sleep better.
Very well written and illustrated.
Stretching is the absolute most important thing everyone needs to do, not just athletes or people who work out a lot. Too many people come for massages to me complaining about tightness and restrictions but they either don't stretch or stretch only a little. This book also explains on the different type of stretching and what is right or wrong. If your care about your body: Get this book. Massage Therapist: Go ahead, add it to your variety of books you have it is worth it and a quick review guide since it is also sectional divided into the different body's region so you don't have to read the whole book to find a special area, e. g. the neck, to look up some stretches and the muscles involved.
are doing for us. The visuals on every page, makes this book user friendly!
LB
Another person that reviewed this book mentioning that the MP3 download is not available as promised. The info is listed for a website but it takes you to another site
It clearly illustrates different muscle groups, gives a list of sports/activities and which muscles to warm up and also gives a list of injuries and aches/pains and their complimentary stretches.
I would not be without this book.
When I ordered this ebook, my sister asked me to order the paper book for her. Her book price was $18, mine ebook just cost $12. She need to wait for a few day for the delivery and I got mine in 30 minutes. Now she complains the book is too heavy. She would never bring it to travel. But mine is always with me, anywhere and anytime!! Who would want to buy a paper book anymore?
It's a great reference manual, rather than an in depth explanation of the science of stretching, so it won't explain why runners get IT band problems, and how to avoid them; simply that if you run, and if you get IT band pain, then do this exercise; so easy to use in that respect. There are a lot of different stretches, way more than I'll contemplate doing, so unless you're almost religiously into yoga then it's probably got more exercises than you have spare minutes of your life to do them.
I find myself pouring over the illustrations and thinking now I understand.
I will be taking it with me to my physio appointment to ensure that the exercises I need to do for my frozen shoulder are suitable and that I am doing them correctly, I am expecting to have a lot of use from this book.
Regards
Karen
Each exercise shows well drawn featured muscles (that are being stretched) in color which contrasts nicely with the adjacent muscles drawn in black and white (yet still with good detail). Drawings are usually in two views as needed. Then below are sections: Technique, Muscles being Stretched, Sports that benefit from this stretch, Sports injury where stretch may be useful, Common problems and additonal information for performing this stretch correctly and reference to other Complementary Stretches in the book. It is so much easier to learn when the reader can experience the stretch while studying. Thank you. I wish I had this book while in college, but it's never to late to learn!
The only thing I didn't find was the origins, insertions and actions of each of the muscles. I found that online.
I have been slacking off on my stretches but my boyfriend has been using it for a month and he's very happy with the results.
I have altered the way I teach some of my postures having read this book, not by much and not many of them :-) but it has made me re-examine a few postures which is always good.
The Anatomy of Stretching is a good book for anybody interested in stretching and how it can help people recover from injuries.
Stretching, obviously, is an important part of any exercise regimen. The other books I looked at showed me the stretches, explained them but were not as clear as I would like on precisely what muscles were being stretched.
"The Anatomy of Stretching" resolves that issue for me.
There are 114 stretches clearly - in fact, beautifully would not be an exaggeration - showing how the stretch is performed and the muscles affected. The various affected muscles are printed in color so there is no mistaking them.
What makes it nice for me, a literal beginner, is that it gives me an idea of where I should be feeling the stretch.
The first five chapters cover physiology and flexibility, why stretching is beneficial, the types of stretching, rules for safe stretching and how to stretch properly.
The remaining eleven chapters group the stretches according to the area of the body involved.
Overall, at least for this beginner, "The Anatomy of Stretching" is a very helpful book.
Jerry
I am grateful to those who take the time to educate us all in correct procedures.
I would, however, recommend this only to someone who has some knowledge or experience with anatomy/physiology, as the explanations are very simple, if not non-existent. It also dwells on the major muscles, when most of us, especially those with a bit of background or experience, really should know how to do them already, so some extra time spent on the more obscure muscles, and/or stretches, would have been well received.
Best suited to someone with a bit of experience who's looking for a bit more. Not for newbies.