Staying injury-free throughout the sports season requires a proper stretching program. Here are some stretching exercises that doctors from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons believe to be a good general set of flexibility exercises for young athletes. Flexibility is a key component to preventing injury. Stretching before athletic activity helps prepare the muscles for exercise. Stretching after exercise has proven to be even more important for preventing injury.

For maximum benefit, young athletes should stretch each of the major lower body muscle groups before and after sporting activity. The exercises below provide options for stretching those large muscle groups.