12 Dynamic Stretches for Runners

What do you think is ideal? Dynamic stretches for runners or static stretches for runners?

It has always been a big question mark for runners and athletes as well as their coaches as to what warmup and stretching routine to follow. Or whether to perform the stretches before the event or after it.

In order to answer these questions, it is always ideal to do both before and after as both have different significance over our body. The stretching done before is known as dynamic stretching while the stretching done after is called static stretching.

In this article, we will be discussing elaboratively dynamic stretches and also know the difference between static and dynamic stretches in our further section.

Rules for Dynamic Stretching

Stretching itself is very necessary for an athlete to decrease the risk of injury, increase blood flow and promote flexibility for different muscle groups.

There are a few key rules that one should keep in mind before performing dynamic stretches for runners:

1) A stretch that is too light will result in next to no effect on the runner or any improvement in joint mobility.

2) A violent stretch can cause injury or contractures that may lead to a decrease in your flexibility.

3) A stretch that is just right without having to reach limits of danger or pain and is bearable and ideal for producing better results.

Also, one should remember to perform some light active warmups before proceeding with dynamic stretches for runners.

Static vs. Dynamic Stretches for Runners

Static stretching is mostly the stretching people refer to when they talk about doing stretches. This stretching involves relaxing the muscles and then giving them gentle twists, forward bending or backwards bending to increase muscle flexibility.

Static stretching is said to be the safest form of stretching as it does not involve any jerky or bouncy movements. The muscle undergoes slow lengthening until it reaches a point of tension.

On the other hand, dynamic stretches for runners refers to balanced controlled movements carried out during warmup. They are also known as pre-run stretches. These movements should be gentle, and slow and should be under a pain-free range of motion for the runner.

Dynamic stretches for runners open up the hips, activate the glutes and make you ready to run with ease. Most importantly, these stretches should feel comfortable and simple.

List of 12 Dynamic Stretches for Runners

1. Heel and Toe Rocking

This is one of the most basic dynamic stretches for runners that targets: calves, gluteus maximus, hamstrings, few muscles of your ankles. This is done with the help of body weight.

Start this stretch by standing with both your feet apart. Put your whole body weight on your heels and then shift the weight onto your toes. Rock your body weight back and forth from your heels to your toes.

Repeat this stretch 4 times.

2. Standing Heel Taps

This exercise is ideal to achieve hamstring stretch as well as stretching of the glutes.

Stand on your left leg and then bend your right leg and turn the knee outwards. Try to touch the heel of your right leg with your left hand and switch sides.

3. Standing Tensor Fascia Latae Stretch

This part of dynamic stretches for runners is to be felt at the tensor fascia latae muscle, at the side of the hips.

Start with crossing your legs – your right heel touching the left toe while standing. Now stretch your arms up and bend down towards the left side while you try touching your left toes. Remember to keep your legs straight.

Switch sides. Repeat 5 times with each leg.

4. Lateral Leg Swings

The easiest dynamic stretches for runners are also known as side leg swings. Targets the hip flexor group of muscles. Start with taking support of a chair or wall. Stand on your left leg and swing your right leg from side to side slowly across your body.

Keep your leg straight and switch sides after 6 swings on each side. Repeat this exercise 2 times with each leg.

5. Hurdle Stretch

This stretch is done to stretch the hip extensors as well as the hip flexors.

Start by placing your hands on your waist firmly. Make sure that you keep your shoulders wide and your spine straight. It is necessary to maintain proper posture while carrying out this stretch.

Draw your left knee up towards your waist and rotate it towards the left side, from your hips. Place your leg down once you complete the rotation and feel a stretch. Do the same with your left leg. Make sure you keep the other leg firm and straight to avoid misbalance.

6. Knee Pull

This stretch is just as its name indicates.

Standing straight, pull your left knee towards your chest while balancing on one leg. Using your hands, give one tight tug to your knee by pulling it closer to your chest. Relax your legs. Repeat the same with the other leg.

This comes under the muscle groups of the hips and hamstrings dynamic stretches for runners.

7. Standing Calf Hamstring Stretch

Both the calves as well as hamstring dynamic stretches for runners are covered together in this exercise.

Stand straight with your right heel out. Bending your torso down, touch your ankle with the opposite hand and come back up. Bring your leg and heel back to a neutral position and repeat with the other leg. Do this stretch 5 times with each leg.

8. Toy Soldier

This exercise focuses on stretching the hamstrings.

Standing straight, lift your right leg up straight in front of you with your knees straight and walk forward. Bring your hands up front as you step forward and try to let your toes touch your hands. Do 5 reps for each leg.

9. Lunge and Reach

This exercise stretches the lower as well as the upper limbs. These dynamic stretches for runners focus on the psoas muscle and the quads muscles of the lower limb.

Start by stepping forward into a deep lunge position with your knee joints at a 90-degree position. Make sure the front knee (left leg) doesn’t pass your toes and the knee behind (right leg) should not touch the floor.

Lifting your opposite hand (right hand) up, bend your torso towards the side of the front knee (left side) unless you feel a stretch in the right side of the torso. Then repeat this 10 times.

10. Back Kick Walking

This exercise is great for stretching the gluteus muscle groups as well as the quadriceps.

Walk forward by kicking your legs back with your heels touching your buttocks. While switching your legs, hopping would help give a dynamic approach to the stretch.

11. Shin Stretch

This exercise is great for stretching the shins and calves.

The movement in this stretching would be like that of pushing a wall with one knee flexed forward at 90 degrees and the other leg behind, with the ankle in plantarflexion and in contact with the ground.

Place your palms on the wall and perform a pushing motion through your arms. Make sure the flexed leg is planted firmly on the ground. You will now feel a stretch in both your calves and shin. Repeat by switching legs. Do this exercise 5 times by each leg.

12. Ankle Mobility Stretch

This stretch would also need a wall where you can place your toes and touch the ground with your heel while keeping your legs straight. Place your arms on the wall and initiate a pushing motion by applying pressure on the front heel.

You will now be able to feel a stretch in your calf muscles. Repeat with the other leg. Carry out with 5 reps on each leg.

Advantages of Dynamic Stretches Before Running

• Provides excellent control of joint mobility
• Improvement of moment patterns
• Increases muscle flexibility
• Helps in warming up the body
• Increases blood flow and decreased risk of  injuries associated with running
• Can help prevent DOMS

Key Takeaways

Now that we know a few forms of dynamic stretches for runners and their advantages, why not try it and add it to your running and workout routine along with a few static stretching exercises as well?

Suggested reads: Amazing Benefits of Heel Touches

FAQs

1. Should I do dynamic stretches before running?

Ans. If you are going to perform a hard training session or run fast then it is better to do dynamic stretches before your run.

2. What are the 7 types of dynamic stretching?

Ans. The 7 types of dynamic stretching are:

1. Reverse Lunge with Twist.
2. Knee Cradle
3. Straight Leg March
4. Buttock Kicks
5. High Knees
6. Carioca
7. Scorpion

3. Suggest some best stretches before running.

Ans. Some best stretches before running are:

1. Side Lunge
2. Arm Swings
3. Bent-knee forward swing
4. Straight-leg lateral swing

Last Updated on September 25, 2023 by Priya Das