How does assisted stretching improve athletic recovery?

Assisted stretching significantly enhances athletic recovery by alleviating muscle tightness and reducing soreness. After intense physical activity, muscles often experience tension, tightness, and micro-tears, which can lead to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Assisted stretching helps to relax the muscles, improve circulation, and enhance flexibility, all of which contribute to decreased tightness and a reduction in soreness.

As blood flow increases during stretching, it facilitates the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles while also promoting the removal of metabolic waste products that can accumulate after exercise. This process accelerates the healing and recovery of muscles, allowing athletes to return to training or competition more effectively and with reduced risk of injury.

While improving cardiovascular endurance and increasing muscle bulk are beneficial aspects of an athletic training regimen, they do not directly address the immediate recovery needs post-exercise. Promoting aggressive techniques can potentially lead to injury rather than recovery. Therefore, the focus on alleviating muscle tightness and reducing soreness highlights the primary role of assisted stretching in the recovery process, making it the correct answer.