Which way of stretching is better? Dynamic or static stretching?
Dynamic stretching is a type of stretching that involves fluid movements through a joint’s range of motion. The purpose of dynamic stretching is to prepare the muscles for the activity that is about to be performed. For example, if an athlete is planning to squat during his or her workout, he or she will perform dyanmic movements targetting the muscles required to squat. This will allow the athlete to squat more safely and efficiently.
Static stretching, on the other hand, is a type of stretching that involves holding a stretch at a muscle’s end length for an extended period of time. The purpose of static stretching is to help the muscles relax while improving their range of motion. These are typically performed following a workout and each stretch should be held for 10-30 seconds. Stretching a fatigued muscle will help reduce soreness, improve range of motion, and assist in muscle growth.
So to answer the initial question; it depends. Neither is going to hurt you, but they will be most beneficial to you if performed in this manner. Aside from sport performance and recovery stretching can help improve posture, release pain or tension, and make normal daily activities easier. We should all be stretching at least twice a day so once you finish reading this, get up and stretch!