Stretching
Static Stretching Routine
-Neck Rotation
1. Relax
2. Slowly roll your head around in a full circle, keeping your back straight
3. You may feel the need to hold the stretch at a particular position if it feels tight, but do not strain
4. Continue for approximately 10 seconds
-Shoulder Rotation
1. Slowly rotate one shoulder at a time
2. Rotate in forward and backward directions in a large circular motion
3. Continue for approximately 10 seconds in each direction
Trunk Rotation
1. Place hands on hips
2. Rotate trunk, bending forward, to right, backward and to left
3. Continue for approximately 10 seconds
-Rock Squat
1. From a standing position, slowly lower hips to squatting position
2. Rock back and forth several times, attempting to squat progressively lower
3. Turn and face to the right, straightening right leg and stretch right hamstring
4. Hold stretch for 10 seconds
5. Repeat for left leg
-Hamstrings Stretch
1. From lunge position, place knee on ground, lean forward on top of thigh
2. Slide back leg as far back as possible
3. Keeping chest on thigh, move hips back, straightening out forward leg
4. Relax and hold for 10 seconds
5. Slowly return to standing position
6. Repeat for opposite leg
-Arms Back (Chest/Shoulder Stretch)
1. From a seated position, place hands on ground with arms behind torso
2. Slowly move hips forward until stretch is felt in chest and shoulders
3. Hold stretch for 10 seconds
-Knee Over (Glute/Back Stretch)
1. Lay back with knees bent
2. Pull right leg across your body
4. Keep upper back, head and shoulders flat on the floor
4. Hold for 10 seconds
5. Repeat for other side
-Modified Hurdle
1. Sit with right leg straight, keeping foot upright
2. Tuck left foot into the inside of the right thigh
3. Slowly bend forward from the hips toward the right foot, keeping your back straight
4. Bring your chest to your right thigh
5. Relax and hold for 10 seconds
6. Repeat for opposite leg
-Piriformis Stretch
1. Place left foot over right knee and lie back
2. Grasp right shin and slowly bring right knee to chest
3. Relax and hold for 10 seconds
4. Repeat for opposite leg
-Butterfly
1. Sit with soles of your feet together, holding onto your toes
2. Use your elbows to gently push to the inside of your thighs until you get a good, even stretch
3. Relax and hold for 10 seconds
4. Repeat
-Lunge (Hip Flexor Stretch)
1. Move right leg forward until right knee is directly over the right ankle
2. Keeping back leg straight, gently lower your hips to create an easy stretch in the front of the hip
3. Hold for 10 seconds
4. Repeat for other leg
-Quadriceps Stretch
1. Maintain position with one knee on ground
2. Grasp shin with and pull lower leg toward hamstrings
3. Slowly lean back toward ground, keeping your back straight
4. Relax and hold for 10 seconds
5. Repeat for opposite leg
-Calf Stretch
1. With hands on ground, move feet back until left knee is nearly straight and cross right leg behind
left leg
2. Press left heel toward ground to create an easy stretch in the calf
3. Hold stretch for 10 seconds
4. Repeat for other leg
Chest Stretch
- Stand tall, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent
- Hold you arms out to the side parallel with the ground and the palms of the hand facing forward
- Stretch the arms back as far as possible
- You should feel the stretch across your chest
Biceps Stretch
- Stand tall, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent
- Hold you arms out to the side parallel with the ground and the palms of the hand facing forward
- Rotate the hands so the palms face to the rear
- Stretch the arms back as far as possible
- You should feel the stretch across your chest and in the biceps
Upper Back Stretch
- Stand tall, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent
- Interlock your fingers and push your hands as far away from your chest as possible, allowing your upper back to relax
- You should feel the stretch between your shoulder blades
Shoulder Stretch
- Stand tall, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent
- Place your right arm, parallel with the ground across the front of your chest
- Bend the left arm up and use the left forearm to ease the right arm closer to you chest
- You will feel the stretch in the shoulder
- Repeat with the other arm
Shoulder and Triceps Stretch
- Stand tall, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent
- Place both hands above your head and then slide both of your hands down the middle of your spine
- You will feel the stretch in the shoulders and the triceps
Side Bends
- Stand tall, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, hands resting on the hips
- Bend slowly to one side, come back to the vertical position and then bend to the other side
- Do not lean forwards or backwards
Abdominal and lower back muscles
- Lie face down on the ground in a prone position
- Lift your body off the ground so that you are supported only by your forearms and toes. The elbows should be on the ground and should be almost directly below your shoulders. Your forearms and hands should be resting on the ground, pointed straight ahead, toes and feet should be shoulder width apart and your head in line with your spine
- Contract your gluteus (bum) muscles gently. Hold for ten seconds
- Lift your right arm off the ground, straighten it and point it straight ahead, holding it in the air for 10 seconds
- Return to the starting position
- Repeat with the left arm
- Return to starting position
- Lift your right leg off the ground and hold it there for ten seconds (keep back straight).
- Return to starting position
- Repeat with left leg
- Return to starting position
- lift your right arm and left leg simultaneously and hold them in position for ten seconds
- Return to starting position
- Lift your left arm and right leg simultaneously and hold them in position for ten seconds
- Return to the starting position
Hamstring Stretch
- Sit on the ground with both legs straight out in front of you
- Bend the left leg and place the sole of the left foot alongside the knee of the right leg
- Allow the left leg to lie relaxed on the ground
- Bend forward keeping the back straight
- You will feel the stretch in the hamstring of the right leg
- Repeat with the other leg
Calf Stretch
- Stand tall with one leg in front of the other, hands flat and at shoulder height against a wall.
- Ease your back leg further away from the wall, keeping it straight and press the heel firmly into the floor
- Keep your hips facing the wall and the rear leg and spine in a straight line
- You will feel the stretch in the calf of the rear leg
- Repeat with the other leg
Hip and Thigh Stretch
- Stand tall with you feet approximately two shoulder widths apart
- Turn the feet and face to the right
- Bend the right leg so that the right thigh is parallel with the ground and the right lower leg is vertical
- Gradually lower the body
- Keep your back straight and use the arms to balance
- You will feel the stretch along the front of the left thigh and along the hamstrings of the right leg
- Repeat by turning and facing to the left
Adductor Stretch
- Stand tall with you feet approximately two shoulder widths apart
- Bend the right leg and lower the body
- Keep you back straight and use the arms to balance
- You will feel the stretch in the left leg adductor
- Repeat with the left leg
Groin Stretch
- Sit with tall posture
- Ease both of your feet up towards your body and place the soles of your feet together, allowing your knees to come up and out to the side
- Resting your hands on your lower legs or ankles and ease both knees towards the ground
- You will feel the stretch along the inside of your thighs and groin
Front of Trunk Stretch
- Lie face down on the floor, fully outstretched
- Bring your hands to the sides of your shoulders and ease your chest off the floor, keeping your hips firmly pressed into the ground
- You will feel the stretch in the front of the trunk
Iliotibial Band Stretch
- Sitting tall with legs stretched out in front of you
- Bend the right knee and place the right foot on the ground to the left side of the left knee
- Turn your shoulders so that you are facing to the right
- Using your left arm against your right knee to help ease you further round
- Use your right arm on the floor for support
- You will feel the stretch along the length of the spine and in the muscles around the right hip
Quadriceps Stretch
- Lie face down on the floor, resting your fore-head on your right hand
- Press your hips firmly into the floor and bring your left foot up towards your buttocks
- Take hold of the left foot with the left hand and ease the foot closer to you buttocks
- Repeat with the right leg
- You will feel the stretch along the front of the thigh



