Ha ha! Get it? S t r e t c h!!! Well, maybe you don't get it right now, but you will when I tell you this week's article is about stretching. :) I've touched on the topic before, but haven't devoted an entire column to it before now. But stretching DESERVES an entire column, because it's such an important part of your time on a dance/drill team.
Just ask Shella Sattler of the necessety of stretching. Sattler is owner of the Dallas Power House of Dance and has written an article about Power Stretching which is posted on the American Dance/Drill Team School site. The article includes sections on injury prevent, body alignment, balancing strength and flexibility.
But before you start stretching, make sure you're warmed up! According to Movin' with Marty, an article linked from the Dance-N-Drill site, your muscles should be at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit before you begin stretching them. (Of course, in Texas all you need to do is step outside and you're set! :)) Also discussed in the article is partner stretching.
I found several sites with stretching ideas for your warm muscles.
Brad Appleton, who is not a medical professional, examins several aspects of stretching on his page--from a look at the physiology of stretching to types of stretches, proper stretching technique, normal ranges of motion for various body parts and (he must have written this for drill teams) a section on the splits.
FitnessLink - Stretching Exercises is a page that contains links to three other stretching sites in addition to simple stretches for various muscles. Stretches compiled from a "variety of personal resources."
Also linked from the Dance-N-Drill site: Stretching Exercises By Lisa Balbach, a variety of simple stretches for different areas of the body.
And if you're curious about the muscles themselves, check out Leg Muscles, a page linked off the DrillTeamExchange.com site. Also, diagrams of other muscles can be found at the Muscle Page for Kids!.
Non-dance/drill team people have to stretch, too, and you may be interested in reading and learning from some of their experiences. Body Pains is a testimony from a dancer who stretches before cutting a rug at clubs.
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