HOW DO I...
Warm up my spine before I run?
Stretching is probably the most overlooked component in any sport, especially running, and few of us think about mobilising our spine before a run
If you’re serious about your running, you need to be serious about your stretching too. “It’s vital to maintain good mobility and flexibility if you want to keep running in the long term,” says Korin Nolan, an expert in Pilates and co-founder of Dynamic Pilates TV.
“Runners are commonly quite inflexible, as the repetitive motion of the sport encourages tightness and therefore shortening of muscles,” she continues. Even though you may stretch your legs before a run, it’s unlikely you’ve considered fully warming up your spine. However, says Korin, “Maintaining good posture as you run will help decrease other pressures in the lower extremities such as hips, knees and ankles. It will ensure an even stride and increase your running efficiency.”