Flexibility exercises are an essential part of recovering from aerobic activity and can reduce your risk for injury. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) encourages individuals to incorporate these exercises into their daily workouts.

Get the most out of your flexibility training by following these simple guidelines:

*Always warm up before your stretch. Stretching cold muscles can cause injury.
*Stretch slowly and gently. Breathe into your stretch to avoid muscle tension. Relax and hold each stretch 10 to 30 seconds.
*Do not bounce your stretches. Ballistic (bouncy) stretching can cause injury.
*Stretching should not hurt. If you feel pain, take the stretch easier, breathe deeply and relax into it.

Click here for sample stretching exercises: http://newsroom.aaos.org/media-resources/news/flexibility-exercises.htm