Not only can improved flexibility help you to perform everyday activities with relative ease, but it can also help delay the reduced mobility that can come with aging. You know exercise is important, but what about stretching? Not only can stretching help increase your flexibility, which is an important factor of fitness, but it can also improve your posture, reduce stress and body aches, and more. Improved circulation can help shorten your recovery time if you've had any muscle injuries., Frequent stretching can help keep your muscles from getting tight, allowing you to maintain proper posture. Believe it or not, stretching is just as important as regular exercise. The research is mixed on what is best. Otherwise, you risk getting injured. It helps constricted and contracted muscles release back to their more comfortable state and your body will eventually become more flexible, which can help prevent injuries Flexibility tends to diminish as you get older, but you can regain and maintain it with regular stretching exercises., Stretching increases circulation (blood flow) to your muscles. There are many different types of stretching, and through the years, many have fallen in and out of fashion with experts. 1. It also encourages the release of endorphins, providing a sense of tranquility and euphoria. All rights reserved. Here we explain how and why these benefits of stretching are achieved. One major caveat, howeverâ¦, Public gyms can sometimes be a breeding ground for germs that cause illness. You also need a solid grasp of proper form and technique. When youâre experiencing stress, thereâs a good chance your muscles are tense. Stretching on a regular basis can help increase your range of motion. This is particularly useful after exercise as waste byproducts accumulate in the muscle tissue. If your little munchkin is preparing for athletics, stretching will help to increase the flexibility of the muscles and thus, avoid muscle tears. Regular stretching can help increase your flexibility, which is crucial for your overall health. Stretching allows for greater movement in joints and improves posture. Stretching the muscles of the lower back, shoulders and chest helps keep your back in better alignment and improves your posture. 10 reasons why you should be stretching. Effect of single bout versus repeated bouts of stretching on muscle recovery following eccentric exercise. stretching exercises also help to decrease blood pressure by promoting circulation; stretching also reduces muscle tension and heart rate, so you can relax in one word. The Office Work and Stretch Training (OST) study: An individualized and standardized approach to improve the quality of life in office workers. All it takes is 5-10 minutes a day at a time that suits you. PNF stretching Flexible muscles improve your everyday function as well as athletic performance. Stretching can improve posture. 4. Michael Lau, PT, DPT, CSCS, is a licensed physical therapist, strength and conditioning coach, and co-founder of The Prehab Guys. Benefits Of Stretching Benefits of stretching include increased flexibility, range of motion, improved sports performance, injury prevention, preventing muscle soreness, improving posture and stress relief. Theyโre many benefits of static stretching that you may not know of. We all know the benefits of exercise; however, life constraints, disability or injury can sometimes hold us back. One of the foremost benefits of stretching is increased and enhanced flexibility of the different muscle groups. There are many benefits to regular stretching. In addition to a proper diet, adequate hydration, and plenty of rest, stretching may help reduce the tension you feel from headaches. Benefits: It reduces the stiffness in your back muscles, and with the help of this technique, one can easily lengthen the back muscles without hurting them. Find a physical therapist (your local Y is a good place to start) who can assess your muscle strength and tailor a stretching program to fit your needs. Med Sci Sports Exerc. aim for 5 to 10 minutes of dynamic stretching prior to your activity, do another 5 to 10 minutes of static or PNF stretching after your workout. Stretching improves circulation by increasing blood flow to your muscles. Youโll have fresh oxygen for your body, reduce risk of injury, and boost your energy while reducing fatigue; this will overall improve your performance of whatever exercise you are doing, whether itโs cardio or strength. Ruzindana adds that stretching is a type of exercise under aerobic exercises that offers the body an opportunity to flex, release excessive tensions and bad energies out of body, thereby, promoting good health. New reports explain that there may be many benefits of stretching on a routine basis, even if you donโt have a workout to do or are not a jogger. Regardless of your fitness level, there are a few standard safety tips for stretching that you should follow: Whether youâre new to exercise or a seasoned athlete, you can benefit from a regular stretching routine. Stretching for only 5-10 minutes a day can make a huge difference.According to Day Fit, โstretching is purely the act of extending or lengthening to the complete length or extent that โฆ 2012;7(1):109-119. One study of office workers who participated in a 10-minute stretching session two days a week for 12 weeks found improvements in scores of mental health and vitality for participants., Maintaining the full range of motion through your joints keeps your body in better balance and helps your muscles work more efficiently. Coordination and balance will help keep you mobile and less prone to injury from falls, especially as you get older.. Try this 5-minute daily stretching routing to get you started. Blood flowing to your muscles brings nourishment and gets rid of waste byproducts in the muscle tissue. Stretching doesn't need to take long. 14. There are plenty of other benefits of stretching and flexibility training. Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Tight muscles can cause poor โฆ These injuries need time to heal, and stretching the involved structures could delay this process. 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