This is a step-by-step fully illustrated guide to stretching. Groundbreaking research has made the shocking discovery that static stretching, a traditional mainstay of athletes' warm-ups, has a measurable negative impact on performance. Holding a stretch for 30 seconds or longer doesn't prepare a muscle for exercise, it weakens the muscle. Already, many top athletes and trainers have abandoned static stretching in favour of dynamic stretching. Now "Dynamic Stretching" teaches athletes and exercise enthusiasts everything they need to know. The book explains the physiology behind this breakthrough in sports performance. Then it presents a complete catalog of dynamic stretches with detailed instructions and step-by-step photos of each sequence. Lastly, it presents dynamic stretching warm-up programs that have been carefully designed for the individual needs of athletes in 30 different sports, including running, tennis, basketball, baseball and softball, football, hockey, skiing, and many others. Dynamic stretching may increase muscle strength up to 30 percent over static stretching. Over 200 step-by-step photographs clearly illustrate each stretching movement.

About the Author

Mark Kovacs holds a Ph.D. in exercise physiology. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a certified health/fitness instructor through the American College of Sports Medicine, and a manager of sports science for the United States Tennis Association Player Development program. He lives in Boca Raton, FL