March 2024 | Are You Our Monthly Winner?
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3 Must-Do Stretches to Ensure Your Body Lasts Before and After Bowling!
Picture this… you’re with your friends, enjoying a fun afternoon of bowling, and feeling like you’re on top of Mt. Everest after a killer game! You eat some onolicious food from the Alley Restaurant, go home, sleep, and the next morning… BAM! Your body hurts and you have no idea why.
Bowling uses a lot of muscle groups, including the arms, legs, back, shoulders, and hands. While it may be more fun to dive right into the game, consider trying some of these stretches the next time you stop by Aiea Bowl, to do Future You a solid by avoiding any potential pain!
1) Shoulders
Your shoulders are one of the muscles used most frequently when bowling – they help you line up your swing, and help control the release of the ball. The most foolproof stretch you can try in advance of your next bowling session is: to extend your arm and cross it over your body, grabbing the elbow with the other hand. Pull your arm towards your chest, and feel the stretch down the outer shoulder. Repeat on the other side, and as needed throughout the day.
2) Forearms/Wrists/Fingers
Have you ever felt pain in your forearms and the fleshy part of the palm of your hand after a lengthy bowling session? That may be because of stress and tension in the smaller muscles when gripping your ball.
To avoid this, start by choosing a ball that is a good fit for your hand. Ensure the holes are the right size (not too big or too small) and that they are an appropriate distance apart. If the holes are too close to each other, you may cramp your fingers, while holes too far apart from each other may overstretch your hand.
After you’ve selected the right ball, make sure to stretch by bending your hands both towards and away from the forearm, gently bending your fingers in each direction.
Pro tip: If you do this in between each frame, you’re setting yourself up for success!
3) Legs/Glutes
While you may not think so, your hamstrings, calves, and glutes are used regularly when bowling. They help you move quickly and aid in keeping balance when you sink low after you’ve thrown the ball.
Doing a few simple toe touches, followed by some calf stretches against a wall or chair can help you stay limber and avoid injury.
Pro tip: an easy way to stretch your glutes in public (without lying on the ground) is to sit in a chair and place one ankle over the opposite knee, creating a number 4 with your legs. Then bend over and try to touch your toes until you feel a stretch down your glute. Repeat on the other side.
