Average Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Total Number of Reviews: 47
Editorial Review: See inside every stretch--and maximize flexibility! Stretching Anatomy will arm you with the knowledge to increase range of motion, supplement training, enhance recovery, and maximize efficiency of movement. You'll also gain a detailed understanding of how each stretch affects your body. Stretching Anatomy is like having an X-ray of each stretch, only better. Not only do you see full-color illustrations of the muscles in action, but you also find out how changes in position can alter the muscle emphasis and difficulty and how variations can improve safety and effectiveness. Each exercise includes detailed instruction on how to stretch, when to stretch, primary and secondary muscle emphasis, and which muscles are activated for support. Stretching programs provide three levels of difficulty, including light stretching that can be used as a warm-up or to aid in recovery from soreness or injury. And summary movement tables show how to customize stretching programs to focus on key problem areas. Whether it is increased flexibility or reduced muscle soreness or tension, Stretching Anatomy allows you to see and feel the benefit of proper stretching technique.
Discover the benefits of stretching in this dynamic guide. 5 out of 5
If you're like me, you may do a short warm-up and then get right into your workout. Then, you might do a few stretches afterwords.
But I learned from this book that I may be missing a wonderful opportunity to gain flexibility and to heal sore, painful muscles and tendons that I've overused or misused.
The benefits of stretching are many. Here's what the book tells us:
"The following are several chronic training benefits gained from using a regular stretching program:
Improved flexibility, stamina (muscular endurance), and muscular strength. The degree of benefit depends on how much stress is put on the muscle. Medium or heavy stretches are recommended. You can do this by building up to doing long stretches of high intensity (see the next section for a detailed explanation of light, medium, and heavy stretching).
Reduced muscle soreness, aches, and pains. Use only very light stretches if muscle soreness prevails.
Improved flexibility with the use of static or PNF stretches. Medium or heavy stretches are recommended.
Good muscular and joint mobility.
More efficient muscular movements and fluidity of motion.
Greater ability to exert maximum force through a wider range of motion.
Prevention of some lower back problems.
Improved appearance and self-image.
Improved body alignment and posture.
Better warm-up and cool-down in an exercise session."
As the book says, it offers a way to see what you'd see in an xray as you stretch. Moreover, you will discover the main muscles that are being worked plus other muscles that are being stretched somewhat less.
"Because of the complexity of muscle attachments, many stretching exercises simultaneously affect a variety of muscle groups in the body and stretch the muscle groups around multiple joints. Thus, a small change in body position can change the nature of a stretch on any particular muscle. To get the maximal stretching benefit in any muscle, it is helpful to know joint movements that each muscle can do. Putting the joint through the full range of each motion allows for maximal stretching."
The book provides you with actual stretching programs.
These programs
". . . can be prescribed for anyone who is interested in improving flexibility, strength, and strength endurance. To make changes to any of these areas, you need to be involved in a regular stretching program, preferably as a daily routine or as close to that as possible. Changes will not come in a day or two but rather after a dedicated effort of several weeks. You can incorporate these programs with or without any other kind of exercise routine. According to the latest research, heavy stretching, even without any other exercise activity, can bring about changes in flexibility, strength, and muscular endurance."
Isn't that exciting! I think it is. Who can't use more flexibility, strength, and muscular endurance?
Let me tell you a bit about the layout of the book because that's important. As the cover says, this is "Your illustrated guide to improving flexibility and muscular strength."
The book is divided into body parts. For example, there's a section on shoulders, back, and chest. You see a color illustration of a male or female doing the stretch. The dark red area shows the "xray" of the muscle or group getting most of the benefit of the stretch. You're given the name of each muscle. A lighter color shows you any secondary muscles that are getting some, but less, benefit.
Then you're told the correct technique for doing the stretch followed by a short commentary that gives you additional valuable information and tips. All this one one page!
Here's the contents of the book:
Chapter 1. Neck
Chapter 2. Shoulders, Upper Back, and Upper Chest
Chapter 3. Arms, Wrists, and Hands
Chapter 4. Lower Trunk
Chapter 5. Hip
Chapter 6. Knees and Thighs
Chapter 7. Calves and Feet
"Stretching Anatomy" is an excellent resource. It provides you with much-needed information about how your body works. It helps you plan a program to use in your warm-ups, cool-downs and rehab programs. After reading it and working with it, you aren't likely to ignore stretching again. I know I won't.
You can adapt the exercises in the book to your needs. To quote the authors, "You can customize the exercises in this book, which will allow for numerous stretch combinations. Also, this book illustrates only a portion of the available stretches. You are encouraged to experiment with these stretches by following the explanations provided. Information is also provided to enable you to explore a variety of positions in order to stretch the muscle by slightly altering the angles and directions of the various body positions. Thus, you can adapt the stretching exercises to fit your individual needs and desires."
If getting in shape, feeling good and getting the most from your workouts matter to you, you need this book. What's more, if you want flexibility, this book is simply golden. The exercises in it will help you become flexible. And when it comes to function, flexibility is an absolute must.
Highly recommended.
- Susanna K. Hutcheson
ABSOLUTELY THE BEST! 5 out of 5
THIS BOOK IS AN EASY READ, VERY INFORMATIVE, THE DRAWING AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE IMPECCABLE AND PERFECTLY ACCURATE. IT TRULY INSPIRES GOOD STRETCHING REGIMINES-AND- CAN, AND WILL CORRECT YOUR POSTURE. CLIENTS LOOOVE THE STRETCHES!!
Want to stretch a specific muscle? 5 out of 5
Shows which muscles are meant to be stretched by which exercise so you know where you should be feeling the stretch.
Diagrams are superb as are exercise instructions.
Brilliant book.
Exaaaaaaaactly what I wanted to know! 5 out of 5
The illustrations identify muscles and muscle groups very well, the text is informative without being too technical, the instructions are clear. Best of all, the actual stretches work wonders. I like knowing what I am supposed to be doing with each stretch, and here it all is!
Best illustrations 5 out of 5
This book has the best illustrations and stretches out there. This book is a great value.
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