Stretching - Sports /
Basketball Stretches
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Stretching
Exercises are mandatory!
May 30, 2001
By INSIDEHOOPS.com
(Return
to Exercise Front Page)
(NOTE: If
you have any injuries, or even think you might, or you have health problems
of any kind or feel any sort of unusual pain or discomfort, consult a doctor.
These stretches are all very standard. None of them should cause pain.
If they do, stop.)
Very few sports are as demanding
as basketball. Ping-pong, bowling, or checkers perhaps, but few others.
It's essential that you stretch key muscles before putting them to real
work.
Warming up
Before you do anything, the body
needs a warmup, lasting 5-10 minutes. Lightly jog around or jump rope until
you start to sweat.
About Stretching
Once you're warmed up, immediately
go into your stretches. The purpose of stretches, in case you don't know,
is to increase the range of motion of your joints. And note that basketball
flexibility takes time to achieve. It doesn't happen overnight. Do not
bounce as you stretch. You stretch slowly, leaning/pushing into the
stretches so that you feel them working, but no pain should result and
you shouldn't feel anything extreme. Focus your attention on the area you're
stretching. Breath slowly. Hold each stretch for 15-25 seconds. Perform
each stretch twice. Do not over-stretch. When in doubt, stretch
easier, not harder. Again, if anything really hurts, stop stretching.
Muscles are not to be torn or yanked, they are to be eased into the stretches.
Sports / Basketball Stretches
Stretching: Hamstring Stretches
Your hamstrings are the muscles on
the back of your upper legs. Sit on the floor. Cross your legs in front
of you. Slowly straighten your left leg with your toes always pointing
straight up. Keep your right leg bent, with the bottom right foot against
the inner part of your left leg. Lean forward from the hips until you start
feeling your hamstring stretch. Hold this stretch for 20 seconds. Now switch
legs and repeat entire stretch.
Stretching: Back Stretches
Lie on your back, legs flat on the
ground. Hold your right leg just below the knee and slowly raise it towards
your chest. Keep your leg straight (or as straight as possible) and your
head down during this. Hold for about 25 seconds. Lower the leg. Switch
legs. Repeat. Do this with each leg 3-5 times.
Stretching: Calf Stretches
Stand near a wall. Lean your forearms
against it, with feet flat on the ground. Lean your forehead against the
back of your hands while they're on the wall. Bend your left knee, bringing
it towards the wall. The right leg remains straight while doing this. Start
moving your hips forward. You will feel your right calf stretch. Hold for
about 20 seconds. Rise to a standing position and switch legs and repeat.
To stretch your Achilles tendon,
do the above while bending slightly at the knee.
Stretching: Groin Stretches
Sit on the floor. Forming a circular
shape with your legs, join the soles of your feet together and hold them
with your hands. Lean your elbows on the inside of your legs. Lean your
upper body forward from the hips. You'll feel a stretch in your groin.
Hold it for 20 seconds, slowly sit up, and repeat this from the beginning
once or twice more.
Stretching: Shoulder Stretches
Stand up. Put your right hand over
your left shoulder. Put your left hand on your right elbow and pull that
elbow toward your left shoulder. You'll feel your right shoulder stretching.
Hold it for 20 seconds. Then reverse everything and repeat.
Stretching: Arm Stretches
Loosen up your arms/shoulders by
sticking them straight out (sideways), swirl them in small tight circles,
make the circles wider and wider until you're basically swinging your arms
in a circle that goes from the floor around to the ceiling. That should
take about 30 seconds. Do this again but swirling your arms in the reverse
direction.
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