The treadmill is one of the most commonly used machines to get a cardio workout in. Sometimes we can be pressed for time, so we get on the treadmill, hit the start button, and go without doing a proper warm up or post stretches. To better prepare our body, and to simply take a moment for self-care before and after a treadmill workout, Adrienne Hoekstra (MVP Athletic Club, Holland Fitness Trainer) showed me some stretches that can be done right on the treadmill.
To dynamically stretch all the muscles attached to the hip BEFORE you start on the treadmill:
Leg Swings-Side to Side: Repeat 10x each leg
Leg Swings- Forward/Backward: Repeat 10x each leg
Stretches that can be performed AFTER a treadmill workout:
Calf stretch: Hold for 30 seconds per leg to get a deep stretch through the calf muscle.
Hamstring stretch: Hold for 30 seconds per leg to get a deep stretch for the hamstring.
Glute Stretch: Hold for 30 seconds per leg to get a deep stretch through the glutes. AKA, my personal favorite stretch!
Sometimes, you don’t know how tight certain muscles are until you stretch them! So, take the few extra minutes to incorporate these five stretches into your treadmill routine next time and see how much better you feel!
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