Code#
BV026

Michael Alter
2nd Edition
Copyright 1998
232pg Paperback

ISBN: 0880118237

This new edition of Sport Stretch is a complete guide to flexibility for both weekend warriors and elite competitors. It features more stretches than the first edition, a new user-friendly layout, and more background information on the hows and whys of stretching.

The centerpieces of this comprehensive book are its illustrations and step-by-step guidelines for 311 different stretches. The stretches can be used individually or grouped with other stretches to form a personalized flexibility program.

Athletes looking to use the stretches to improve performance in a specific sport will love the book’s Stretching Program section. It’s full of handy tables that detail the most effective exercises for individual sports. There are sample programs for 41 sports in all!

Sport Stretch also provides a selection of "All Star" stretches. These include the single best stretches for 28 muscle groups and the 12 best stretches overall. The exercises are perfect to use for warming up and cooling down.

For those who are looking for background information on flexibility, this book explains the basic principles of stretching and describes how the body responds during stretching. Readers will discover what causes muscle soreness, how increased flexibility translates directly into better performance and lessens the chances of injury, and more.

Sport Stretch has everything athletes need to limber up and play their best. It takes the guesswork out of stretching by providing 311 exercises for 41 sports.

About the Author

A former gymnast, coach, and nationally certified men’s
gymnastics judge, Michael J. Alter is an expert on the subject of stretching. He is the author of Science of Flexibility, Science of Stretching, and the first edition of Sport Stretch.

Alter earned his MS in health education from Florida International University in 1976. He taught high school physical education and coached gymnastics for several years prior to his current position in Miami as a high school teacher.

Alter has been a guest lecturer at annual meetings across the country, including the 1994 Chiropractic Sports Science Symposium and the 1992 Scientific Meeting of the North American Society of Pediatric Exercise Medicine.

In his leisure time, Alter enjoys bicycling, listening to classical music, working out with weights, and studying sports medicine.

Table of Contents

Part I: Understanding Flexibility
The Benefits of Stretching
How the Body Responds to Stretching
What Happens When You Stretch?
Stretching Techniques
What Causes Muscle Soreness?
Appropriate Injury Management
Adding a Stretching Program to Your Workout
The Controversy About Stretching
Advanced Stretches

Part II: All-Star Stretches
12 All-Star Stretches
28 Maximal Isolation All-Stars

Part III: Stretching Routines for Specific Sports
Archery
Baseball, Softball, and Cricket (General Field Players)
Baseball, Softball (Pitchers), and Cricket (Bowlers)
Basketball
Bowling
Cross-Country Skiing
Cycling and Triathlon
Dance (Beginning)
Dance (Advanced)
Diving (3- to 10-Meter)
Figure Skating
Football (Offensive Line and Defensive Line)
Football (Defensive Backs and Receivers)
Golf
Gymnastics
Hiking and Backpacking
Ice Hockey
In-Line Skating
Jogging
Lacrosse
Martial Arts (Beginning)
Martial Arts (Advanced)
Race Walking
Rowing, Kayaking, and Canoeing
Sailing and Windsurfing
Skiing (Alpine)
Soccer (International Football)
Squash
Swimming
Table Tennis
Tennis, Racquetball, and Handball
Track and Field (High Jump and Pole Vault)
Track and Field (Hurdles, Long and Triple Jump, and Sprints)
Track and Field (Discus, Hammer Throw, Javelin, and Shot Put)
Volleyball
Water Skiing
Weight Lifting
Weight Lifting (Light Weights)
Wrestling

Part IV: Illustrated Instructions for 311 Stretches
Feet and Ankles
Lower Legs
Hamstrings
Adductors
Quadriceps
Hips and Gluteals
Lower Torso
Upper Back
Neck
Pectorals
Shoulders
Arms and Wrists

Words of Praise

"The American Running and Fitness Association has been recommending Sport Stretch since it first came out. This new edition is even better. Alter provides a smorgasbord of stretches, so it’s easy to find one that works for you. No matter what your sport is, Alter can help your flexibility, and possibly your performance."
Susan Kalish
Executive Director
American Running and Fitness Association