Dynamic Stretching: The Revolutionary New Warm-up Method to Improve Power, Performance and Range of Motion [Paperback]

Mark Kovacs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 2009

RAISE YOUR GAME WITH THIS REVOLUTIONARY STRETCHING PROGRAM

Today’s fitness experts have discovered that both stretching and how you stretch can affect how well you perform on the field, court or track. That is why so many top trainers recommend dynamic stretches.

Dynamic Stretching teaches how to effectively prepare your body for physical activity while simultaneously improving strength, power, speed, agility and endurance. With more than 50 exercises—fully illustrated with step-by-step photos—this book shows how to take your workouts and abilities to the next level:

•Develop full-body range of motion
•Enhance full-body motor control
•Increase flexibility, balance and muscular endurance
•Improve force generation and reaction time
•Correct major and minor muscle imbalances

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mark Kovacs Ph.D. is Manager of Sports Science for the United States Tennis Association Player Development. He was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion at Auburn University. After playing professionally, he pursued his graduate work in Exercise Science from Auburn University and a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from The University of Alabama. Dr. Kovacs is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a certified Health/Fitness Instructor through the American College of Sports Medicine, a United States Track and Field Level II sprints coach and also a USPTA certified tennis coach. Mark is also an author of the tennis conditioning text Tennis Training: Enhancing On-Court Performance and is currently an Associate Editor of the Strength and Conditioning Journal.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Ulysses Press; 1 edition (December 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569757267
• ISBN-13: 978-1569757260
• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 0.3 x 7.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Stretching
  • #60 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Coaching > Training & Conditioning

More About the Author

Dr. Mark Kovacs, PhD, FACSM, CTPS, CSCS*D - Sport Science Expert

Dr. Kovacs is the Executive Director of the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA) which is the worldwide leader in tennis specific performance, education and certification (www.itpa-tennis.org). He was a collegiate All-American and NCAA doubles champion at Auburn University. After playing professionally, he pursued his graduate work performing human performance research and has a graduate degree in Exercise Science and a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology. Dr. Kovacs is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a certified Health/Fitness Instructor through the American College of Sports Medicine, a United States Track and Field Level II sprints coach as well as a USPTA certified tennis coach. Mark has been published in numerous top scientific journals and presented at national and international conferences. Previously he oversaw the sport science, coaching education and strength & conditioning departments for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for more than four years.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Discover the power of stretching. February 23, 2010

By Susanna Hutcheson TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

The author tells us that . . . "today's fitness experts have discovered that both stretching and how you stretch can affect how well you perform on the field, court or track." That is the basis of this new book on a most valuable topic.

Those of us who exercise a good deal, often neglect stretching. Moreover, we neglect stretches specific to our sport or functional needs. With this book, there's no longer an excuse for that.

You will discover how to:

Develop full body range of motion
Enhance full-body motor control
Increase flexibility, balance and muscular endurance
Improve force generation and reaction time
Correct major and minor muscle imbalances

Most of the stretches are sport-specific. So, to that extent, it somewhat limits it's interest to some. Nonetheless, I found exercises that would be worthwhile to most anyone. In fact, the second part of the book shows how to do stretches that can be done by anyone without regard to a specific sport. For example, you'll learn the high-knee lateral skip and the dynamic empty can. You'll also learn variations. The photos are black and white and fairly small. But, they easily demonstrate how to do the stretches and the instructions are given in 1,2,3 order so you can't mess up.

If you want to learn some new stretches that will make you perform better in your sport and simply function better in everyday living, you'll love this book.

Highly recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Should be Called Dynamic Warm-Ups February 17, 2011

By RedGhostRider

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is great! if your wondering why I only gave it four stars let me explain.
I bought this book under the assumption that I would be getting more infomation on some advanced sports stretching. while there is some stretching in this book, it is geared for pre and post warm-up excersizes up for sports.
Now for the Pros. This book is a great step by step warm-up guide, perfect for beginner coaches or self coached persons looking to get a good pre workout/game warm-up and not knowing where to start. As a Marine Sergeant I utilize and am constantly searching for better warm-ups all the time when getting the guys ready for PT (physical training), so this book helps out greatly.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book With Good, Up-To-Date Information February 17, 2011

By J. Coberly

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a soccer coach, I was very interested in this book because it covers dynamic stretching as opposed to traditional, static stretching, and I hoped it would give me some new (or more efficient) ideas.

As someone who spends a good deal of time learning about athletic performance many of these exercises weren't new to me, but a few were. I mention that because if you don't spend as much time as I do, you will find A LOT of useful information and exercises, and even if you are well-versed, you could very well find some new exercises like I did.

Pros:
- Gives a primer on dynamic stretching (for the uninitiated); but it's short (for the initiated)
- Lots of exercises
- A picture for each step of each exercise
- Sport-specific program for several sports including suggested number or reps/distance

Cons:
- Explanations are not always clear
- The soccer "program" is fairly basic

Bottom line:
It's worth it for coaches, athletes, and individuals looking to begin or expand upon a dynamic stretching routine.