388 exercises
The Best 388 Stretching Exercises with Videos & Tips
Discover stretching exercises for improving flexibility, joint range of motion, and movement quality. Each exercise features HD video demonstrations and proper form cues to help you reduce muscle tension, prevent injuries, and support post-workout recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I stretch before or after working out?
Dynamic stretching before your workout to warm up your joints and muscles. Static stretching after your workout when your muscles are warm and pliable. Static stretching before lifting can actually reduce your strength and power output temporarily, so save it for the cool-down.
Does stretching help with muscle growth?
Stretching under load, like deep flyes or Romanian deadlifts, can contribute to muscle growth by increasing the stretch on the muscle fibers. Regular static stretching alone does not build muscle, but it improves your range of motion, which lets you train through a fuller range of motion on other exercises.
Can stretching prevent injuries or is that a myth?
Stretching helps maintain flexibility and range of motion, which can reduce injury risk over time. But static stretching right before intense exercise does not prevent acute injuries. A proper dynamic warm-up that matches your workout movements is more effective for injury prevention than just touching your toes.
How long should I hold a stretch?
For static stretches, hold for 20 to 30 seconds per muscle group. That is enough to improve flexibility without overdoing it. If you are working on a particularly tight area, you can hold for up to 60 seconds. Never bounce or force a stretch. Slow and controlled wins.