The latest in Delavier's collection, following his renowned 'Strength Training Anatomy', illustrating a range of stretching techniques.
Get an inside view of the muscles in action during every stretch you perform!
Delavier’s Stretching Anatomy is your guide for increasing flexibility, improving range of motion, toning muscles, and relieving pain and discomfort. The very best stretches for shoulders, chest, arms, torso, back, hips, and legs are all here, and all in the stunning detail that only Frédéric Delavier can provide.
With over 550 full-colour photos and illustrations, you’ll go inside more than 130 exercises to see how muscles interact with surrounding joints and skeletal structures and learn how variations, progressions, and sequencing can affect muscle recruitment, the underlying structures, and ultimately the results.
Delavier’s Stretching Anatomy includes 13 proven programs for increasing muscle tone, releasing tension and stress, and optimizing training and performance in 13 sports, including running, cycling, basketball, soccer, golf, and track and field.
The former editor in chief of PowerMag in France, author and illustrator Frédéric Delavier is a journalist for Le Monde du Muscle and a contributor to Men’s Health Germany and several other strength publications. His previous publications, Strength Training Anatomy and Women’s Strength Training Anatomy, have sold more than 2 million copies.
Contents
INTRODUCTION
Why Stretching?
Exercises That Reconnect You With Your Body
STRETCHING: A USER’S MANUAL
A Natural Method Based On How Your Body Feels, Not How Hard You Push
Benefits of Stretching
A Gentle Form of Exercise
Types of Stretching
Structuring a Stretching Program
Learn How to Breathe!
Breathing and Relaxation
For Effective Breathing
Inhaling and Exhaling
Breathe Deeply, but Find a Natural Rhythm
Active Breathing
External Breathing
Pulmonary Breathing
Why Athletes Should Stretch
Stretching Has Five Benefits for Athletes
Too Much Flexibility Can Diminish Performance
Athletes Have Four Opportunities to Stretch
How an Athlete Should Stretch
Breathing During Stretching
Stretching Unilaterally
Stretching to Prevent Problems Associated With Sports
THE STRETCHES
Stretches for the Neck
Stretches for the Shoulders and Chest
To Prevent Shoulder Pain, Stretch the Infraspinatus
Preventing Shoulder Pain in Athletes
How to Protect the Infraspinatus
Stretches for the Arms and Forearms
Stretches for the Lateral Flexor Muscles in the Torso
Stretches for the Rotator Muscles in the Torso
Stretches to Relax the Back
Preventing Lower Back Pain
Relaxing the Spinal Column
Stretches for the Hips
Importance of Hip Flexibility
Stretches for the Buttocks
Stretches for the Quadriceps
Stretches for the Hamstrings
Preventing Hamstring Tears
Stretches for the Adductors
Stretches for the Calves
STRETCHING PROGRAMS
Stretching Programs for Better Muscle Tone and Well-Being
Beginner Program
Intermediate Program
Advanced Program
Stretching Programs for Athletes
Guidelines for Programs
Basic Athletic Program
Golf and Sports Involving Torso Rotation
Running Sports, Soccer, and Skating
Skiing
Combat Sports
Cycling
Throwing Sports (Shot Put, Basketball, and Handball)
Horseback Riding
Swimming
Bodybuilding