TeamWhile drinking plenty of water, getting a whole night’s rest, and eating a well-balanced diet can contribute to maintaining excellent health, putting a little bit of attention towards your sore muscles and stiff joints will go a long way in supporting you on your journey to a healthier life.
Stretching is a fundamental aspect of any physical therapy for this precise reason. Stretching is a great way to start your day and has many benefits that need to be acknowledged. Here are ways stretching can help you improve your health and wellness and help you to feel better.
Stretching Improved Your Mobility
If you are suffering from chronic pain, it’s normal for a physical therapist to prescribe different stretching exercises. Stretching is very important when you’re less mobile due to issues like osteoarthritis. The less you move your body joints, the greater the possibility that your connective tissues and muscles will lose some of their strength. This change limits your joint motion and can leave you in more pain. Stretches such as walking, heat therapy, or massage therapy reduce your stiffness and improve mobility.
Improve Your Posture
Our posture suffers when we sit in front of a screen for a long time. We start to slouch, our lower back becomes stiff, our shoulders get bent, and we begin to feel less comfortable. You need to keep stretching your back, shoulder, and chest muscles. This will prevent them from misaligning and compressing your spine and other bones. Try to stretch your whole body every morning, and you’ll notice you are less nervous when sitting at a desk. Try for a few days and let us know.
Boost Your Muscle Stamina
Sore and heavy muscles are a serious problem. If you end your daily workout without a stretch and a cool down, you may find yourself suffering from muscle soreness. A stretching routine may not prevent this pain completely, but your muscles will recover better if you do it. Stretch can help remove lactic acid and reduce the inflammation from your muscles, thus helping you feel ready for your next workout.
Improve Your Performance
You will have a greater advantage in any physical activity you decide to participate in when you condition your muscles, joints, and ligaments. Whether you’re simply trying to add more physical activity into your daily life or you’re a committed athlete, stretching can help improve your performance.
Improve Your Circulation
Stretching is an excellent way to improve your blood circulation. As you stretch, the blood flows throughout your body increase, providing your muscles and cells with the needed oxygen to function at their optimum levels. In turn, it stabilizes your blood pressure and decreases the strain put on your heart, keeping you healthy and fit.
Decrease Your Risk of Injury
Muscle soreness and stiffness can cause an injury even if you work out. Muscles that you don’t always use are more likely to spasm and suffer from a movement they are not used to. You may bend at an awkward angle or try to lift a heavy object and find you have injured yourself or pulled a muscle. Regular stretching can keep your muscles and joints healthy and well-oxygenated and help you prevent these injuries.
Decrease Your Stress Levels
Stretching is an excellent way to alleviate stress. It can help you relax, ease your muscle tension, and begin to feel lesser wound and tight. If you include some meditation into your stretching exercises, you’ll find yourself less stressed out and feeling more positive.
How Do I Get Started With Stretching?
It’s easy to get started with a daily stretching routine. Choose an open area in your house where you will have enough space to move around. Wear loose clothes that will let you move easily as you stretch. Keep in mind to always stay hydrated before you start stretching. Eating healthy foods and staying hydrated goes a long way to help take care of your nervous system and heart.
When you start the stretch routine, make sure that you’re doing the stretches perfectly to prevent injury. Start by performing each stretching exercise a few times. You can increase the time you spend on each activity and as your muscles joint and become more flexible. Listen to your body language and stop any stretch that is causing body pain.
Don’t force your body into a difficult stretch. Stretches should only create moderate tension. Avoid dangerous movements and keep a steady breathing rhythm while stretching. Never try to hold your breath when performing a stretch.
