Flexibility Training Enhances Personal Fitness Programs

1. Flexibility Training Enhances
Personal Fitness Programs
By: Lionel Beaucage

2. Flexibility Training Enhances Personal Fitness
Programs
Lionel Beaucage of Topsham, Maine, attended the University of Maine and is a former United
States Marine. Today, Lionel Beaucage is a personal trainer, providing clients with injury and
weight loss management as well as nutritional counseling. Mr. Beaucage also designs
personalized exercise programs for his clients. A key element of a well designed, sports-specific
training program contains elements of flexibility training.

3. Flexibility Training Enhances Personal Fitness
Programs
Focused intentional stretching and flexibility training that is designed specifically for an athlete’s
sports and fitness endeavors can do a great deal to improve athletic performance and enable the
body’s muscles to work together more effectively. Appropriate stretching can also ease muscle
soreness and prevent injury.

4. Flexibility Training Enhances Personal Fitness
Programs
When starting a flexibility routine, athletes must make sure not to view it as a warmup to their
physical activities. Excessive stretching of cold muscles can cause injury rather than prevent it.
Athletes should also be sure to focus equally on both sides of the body to ensure that gains in
flexibility are symmetrical.

5. Flexibility Training Enhances Personal Fitness
Programs
In order for flexibility training to be most effective, it should be a long term commitment. When an
athlete continually works toward maintaining flexible muscles in keeping with the demands of their
sport, they can improve their overall performance and reduce the risk of injury.