(HealthDayNews) — Stretching before and after exercising is key to avoiding injury. But the way in which you stretch is just as important.

Montana State University, Northern, offers these safe stretching tips:

• Don’t stretch a cold muscle. Warm up by walking, jogging, or by taking a warm bath.
• Use a static stretch, which is stretching to the point where the muscle feels tight but not painful. Hold for 20 seconds to a minute.
• Avoid lunging or bouncing.
• Breathe student loan calculator naturally and stay relaxed.
• Ease into the stretch slowly and rhythmically.