Straighten your arms and legs and get more out of your workout!

Range of motion is one of the most important parts of exercising. More muscles fibers are recruited, the stronger you'll be and the longer leaner looking muscles you'll acquire. Any leg or arm exercise and yes that includes, bicep curls, dips, leg extensions, push ups and on and on, always make sure to straighten the limb so that every single repetition you begin at 0 and then move to the position your joints can handle such as 90degrees at the knee but ALWAYS go back to a straight position. Take a look at dancers, swimmers or hurdlers (you know I start to get a little nuts when the Olympics are around the corner so get ready for weeks of references!) they all have longer muscles because their art/sport requires full range of motion in order to achieve more. Dancers-range of motion=higher extension and more flexibility, Swimmers-arm reach enables a longer pull to the stroke and lets not forget Michael Phelps wouldn't have hit the wall first 4 years ago in the butterfly if he hadn't reached his greatest range of motion and Hurdlers-flexibility and extension of that front let and adductors (split ability) makes for a wider longer jump. So keep it in mind during exercise this week, ROM range of motion is crucial to a healthier and stronger you!