(Health-NewsWire.Net, June 02, 2015 ) San Francisco, CA -- WOD Nation coach and certified trainer Barry Lavis has trained many athletes including elite Olympic wrestlers. He has observed that some athletes ignore the stretching before their workout. Failing to stretch the lats can cause injury that is very painful.
Stretching properly does not only entail technique but the proper equipment. In his video, Lavis uses a WOD Nation resistance band to demonstrate the stretches. He says that it is important to use the band with the right resistance level. WOD Nation resistance bands are color-coded according to resistance.. Red has the lightest with 10-35 lbs. resistance and blue with 75-165 lbs. A stronger athlete would need a thicker band. The bands can also be used in tandem for different kinds of stretches.
It is also advised that during stretches with exercise bands, it is important to relax and let the band do its work. Stretching the lat is a distraction exercise and not a strength exercise, so relaxation is key to make the stretch effective. The video is an easy-to-follow demonstration on how to stretch with a resistance band. It shows the proper positioning of the band on the body and the whole routine takes only a few minutes.
Lat stretches are important because tight lats cause chronic shoulder and back pain. The lats also provide stability and helps in performing bench presses. The lats basically pull the arms down, back, and keeps the elbows close to the body. It is important to keep the upper back and shoulders healthy. It is probably the single most influential muscle in the body and does more than just work on the humerus.
It is not difficult to keep the lats healthy, pain-free, and functioning efficiently. Taking the time to stretch them properly is a big help. Lavis' video shows how quick and easy it is to correctly perform lat stretches using the WOD Nation resistance band. Allocating a few minutes for stretching can result to a more efficient workout.
About WOD Nation
WOD Nation is a United States based company that provides workout gear to elite athletes. All of the company's fitness products are rigorously tested by athletes around the world to ensure they meet the demands of intense exercise programs. WOD Nation's website can be found at http://wodnationgear.com.
