Stretching Scientifically, A Guide to Flexibility Training will be useful to athletes, instructor's and coaches. It describes the systems and organs of the body that determine one's flexibility. But that's not all. The theory is illustrated with practical examples and then folowed by a detailed practical guide to the safest and fastest stretching methods.

Every stretching method is carefully explained, then the recommended ways of application are suggested. Every exercise is shown and clearly described. The exercises are grouped by body part (arms, legs, etc.) and accompanied by listings of sports in which they can be applied.

In this book you wil find information on:

What determines how flexible you are.
How to test your potential flexibility.
How to choose your stretching method.
How to arrange your stretching routine.
How the results shown in the book were achieved.
How to have your full flexibility (normally available only after a warm-up) even without a warm-up.

Stadion Publishing Company, Inc., established in 1985, is dedicated to producing high quality sports and fitness manuals, bringing East European sports know-how to Western athletes and coaches.

Contents

Warning-disclaimer
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Getting the most out of this book
1 Flexibility in sports
Inquiry prevention and flexibility
2 How to stretch
Methods of stretching
Early morning stretching
Stretching in your workout
The use of partners in stretching
Children and flexibility training
The elderly and flexibility training
3 Dynamic stretching
Arms
Legs
Trunk
4 Static active stretching
5 Isomertric stretching
When you are not ready for isometrics
When you are ready
How to select your stretches
Neck
Forearm
Arms, shoulders, chest
Legs-Stretches leading to the side split; Stretches leading to the front split; Splits and high kicks
Trunk
Recap
6 Relazed stretching
Neck
Forearm
Arms, shoulders, chest
Legs-stretches leading to the side split; Stretches leading to the front split
Trunk
7 Sample workout plans
8 All the whys of stretching
Anatomy, physiology, and flexibility
Tests of flexibility potential
Practical conclusions for sports training
Recap
9 Questions and answers on stretching
Does this method really work? And how?
Body alignment for hip stretches
Dynamic stretches and morning stretch
What and when
Stretching in workouts for various sports
Flexibility and other athletic abilities
Age and stretching
Gender and stretching
Sounds in and around joints
Pain or soreness and stretching
Injuries and stretching
No success
Impatience
Stretching machines and other strange practices
Other
Resources for futher study
Appendix A: Hip joint and shoulder joint
Appendix B: Normal range of motion
Bibliography
Index

This book is all about stretching using the most up to date scientific knowledge about stretching that is available. The book is good but it is straight to the point, as far as I know the book can be bought on its own or with an accompanying DVD. The DVD is just like the book dry and straight to the point. But I guess if you want entertainment read a fictional novel. ( )