Stretching - Lower Body Chapter 2 HIP FLEXOR & UPPER THIGH: Lean forward as shown, putting your weight on your rear foot but keeping both feet pointing forward. 1. QUADRICEPS: Keep your knee pointed at the ground and hold the stretch. Hold onto the ATV only for balance. HAMSTRING: Face the ATV, put your leg up on the footpeg or seat of your ATV (or handlebar if you are really flexible!) and stretch. Keep your back and knee straight. TORSO & LOWER BACK: Hang onto the handlebars with one hand and the rear carry rack with the other and twist at the hips. (Repeat other way.) Warming Up Riding an ATV requires a lot of body movement.
Doing warm-ups before you stretch, will help prevent muscle strain and injury. Stretching Remove large and sharp objects from pockets. Do not overexert your- self on warm-up exercises. These are minimal exercises and repetitions suggested for warming up. As with any strenuous activity, you should consult your doctor if there is any doubt about you being in shape to ride. Sore muscles or joints could limit your movement and require you to take extra precautions when riding. Stretching Exercises Possibly one of the areas most neglected by ATV riders these days is that of injury prevention through stretching.
It’s only when you fall off and are flexi- ble enough to avoid injury that you will really reap the benefits of stretching. The Stretching Routine Before you proceed with the following stretching exercises, you should warm-up your muscles by doing a brisk walk or jogging on the spot for a few minutes. When stretching, make sure you don’t push too hard too soon – stretching shouldn’t hurt. Gently stretch each muscle rather than bounce 6