Stretching: Focus on flexibility

You can stretch anytime, anywhere. Just follow these tips to do it safely and effectively.

By Mayo Clinic staff Stretching may take a back seat to your exercise routine. You may think that stretching your hamstrings and calves is just something to be done if you have a few extra minutes before or after pounding out some miles on the treadmill. The main concern is exercising, not stretching, right?
Not so fast. Although studies about the benefits of stretching are mixed, stretching may help you improve your flexibility, which in turn may improve your athletic performance and decrease your risk of injury. Understand why stretching can help — and how to stretch correctly. More . . .

NBA Short Season Favors Young Teams

By Alex Kennedy
NBA Writer


What do the Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers have in common, aside from playing very well in the first month of the NBA season? These are several of the youngest teams in the league, all of which have an average age below 27 years old.
Once the NBA announced that there would be a 66-game season, many fans, journalists and players wondered who the condensed schedule would favor. Would veteran teams have an edge because there are fewer games and they could get by with less practice time? Would young teams thrive because it’s easier for them to play the packed, five-games-in-six-nights schedule?
More . .