Contains background information on flexibility, including basic principles of stretching and body responses during stretching. Readers will discover what causes muscle soreness, how increased flexibility leads to better performance and reduces injury, and how they can limber up and play their best.

Author Biography

A former gymnast, coach, and nationally certified men'sgymnastics judge, Michael J. Alter is an expert on the subject of stretching. He is the author of Science of Flexibility, Science of Stretching, and the first edition of Sport Stretch.Alter earned his MS in health education from Florida International University in 1976. He taught high school physical education and coached gymnastics for several years prior to his current position in Miami as a high school teacher.Alter has been a guest lecturer at annual meetings across the country, including the 1994 Chiropractic Sports Science Symposium and the 1992 Scientific Meeting of the North American Society of Pediatric Exercise Medicine.In his leisure time, Alter enjoys bicycling, listening to classical music, working out with weights, and studying sports medicine.