A new wave of research is showing what the old gym myths about stretching got wrong—and what you really need to do to reap its benefits.

Beth Skwarecki is Lifehacker’s Senior Health Editor and has been writing about health, fitness, and science here since 2015. Beth was the recipient of the 2017 Carnegie Science Award in science ...

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is a form of assisted stretching. It combines passive stretching with muscle contraction. First, your partner applies force to stretch your muscle ...

If a muscle or joint feels tight, stretching tends to be people’s first port of call. On the face of it, this approach makes sense, but a movement mechanics expert says it might not be the best course ...

Stretching may provide a variety of benefits. People can perform stretches anywhere and at any time. Doing so regularly may help increase flexibility and reduce the risk of injury. Share on Pinterest ...

Stretching at the end of your workout can help boost your flexibility, reduce the risk of injury, and decrease muscle tension in your body. It can even help improve your performance the next time you ...

Your adductor muscles help maintain a strong hip, knee, core, and lower back. To keep these muscles loose and avoid cramps, include dynamic stretches as part of your warm-up routine and static ...

If you've been running well and your muscles feel fine, stretching might seem like a waste of good running time. But scheduling in some stretching could slash your chance of getting injured, help ...

The notion that sitting isn’t good for you isn’t new – but if you think that running regularly cancels out the negative side effects of sitting all day, you’d be wrong. Research indicates that no ...

The calf muscles run from the back of the knee to about halfway down the lower leg. Learning how to effectively stretch the calf muscles can help reduce tightness, soreness, and pain in these muscles.