No matter whether you sit at a desk all day or are a competitive athlete, the impacts of stretching can be profound! Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a healthy range of motion in our joints.
Why Stretching Is Important
It is common knowledge that exercise enthusiasts benefit from a stretching routine to keep their muscles flexible and their joints mobile. They are not alone! Those people living sedentary lives also have a multitude of reasons to incorporate stretches, including as a means to off-set the health implications of a less active lifestyle.
“A lot of people don’t understand that stretching has to happen on a regular basis. It should be daily,” says David Nolan, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, SCS, CSCS, a physical therapist and Clinical Specialist at the Mass General Sports Physical Therapy Service and the Director of the MGH / Northeastern University Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program and Director of Continuing Education at Bay State Physical Therapy and its family of clinics.
6 Benefits of a Regular Stretching Routine
A good stretch is the perfect way to start or end your day no matter what age you are. If you don’t have a flexibility regimen in place, you definitely need one! Nolan adds “It may have taken you many months to get tight muscles, so you’re not going to be perfectly flexible after one or two sessions. It takes weeks to months to get flexible, and you’ll have to continue working on it to maintain it.”
#1 Boost Energy
A few quiet moments of stretches paired with deep breathing exercises can give you the burst of energy you need to start your day off right! If you start feeling tired or sluggish at work, it’s also a great way to get your energy levels back up.
#2 Increase Flexibility
Having better flexibility provides a multitude of benefits. It can improve your physical performance and reduce your chance of injury. The more flexible you are, the less energy your body requires to carry out everyday actions.
#3 Reduce Stress Levels
Too much stress in your body can cause your muscles to tighten and contract, leaving you to feel extremely tense. Stretching can release endorphins which can relax you, boost your mood, and reduce the amount of stress you feel overall.
#4 Increase Blood Flow
One of the main benefits of stretching is that it improves your blood circulation. As a result, better blood circulation also cuts down on the soreness you feel after working out! Your heart rate is also lowered by stretching. It’s a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.
#5 Reduce Muscle Soreness and Lower Your Risk of Injury
Increased flexibility helps your joints’ range of motion, thus helping you move more freely. A well-balanced stretching routine also ensures that you have equal flexibility on both sides and might help protect you from injury. If you do experience mild pain or soreness after strenuous activity, stretching can help. When you stretch, it increases the blood flow and oxygen levels going to those sore muscles. This means that necessary nutrients will have a clear path to the muscles, where cellular repair occurs thanks to oxygenated blood. Even those people experiencing chronic pain can benefit from a stretching routine.
#6 Improve Posture
If you work a desk job, you’ll find yourself sitting a lot more than is healthy and slouching as well. Stretching every day at work can help your posture by lengthening muscles in your back that tend to tighten up over the course of a workday. Focusing on your chest, shoulders, and lower back can help with keeping your spine aligned. Stretching regularly also helps to promote an awareness of your body position, leading to better posture throughout the day!
Get Started Today
Now that you know of the importance of regular stretching, all you need to do is get started. If pain or loss of function makes movement challenging, we are just a click or call away.
Call your nearest Bay State Physical Therapy location or complete the form below to request an appointment.
Resources:
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-importance-of-
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/multimedia/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-
Tags: wellness, Chronic Pain, Proper posture, Flexibility, Physical Therapy, Healths, Exercise, Fitness
