Stretching – that one thing that is often done as a response
to muscular pains and joint aches, but rarely done on a regular basis (except maybe for
athletes with routine warm-up and stretching exercises).
I’d admit, back then, I never really stretched until I felt
it was necessary. There were times when it didn’t even cross my mind to flex
some muscles unless I needed some extra walking in the morning after I got out
of bed. Or when I needed to stretch my arms or legs to relax some strained muscles.
And perhaps, many of you can relate to this. For the past few months
though, I’ve learned just how important it is to set aside a couple of minutes
every day for stretching. Its benefits go a long way than just relieving muscle
aches, as stretching has a huge long-term impact on your overall health. This
is great not just for older adults, but for anyone of any age!
Here are some of the wonderful
benefits of stretching:
Improves flexibility
Stretching can train the muscles to increase in length which, in turn, will make your
muscles more flexible. It also improves the range of motion of joints,
which is helpful for preventing joint pains.
Both the increased flexibility and
range of motion mean that you can avoid that abrupt muscle tension that you’d
usually feel after suddenly bending down to pick up a pen, or swiftly turning
your head to someone calling your name.
Aside from this, flexibility also
means that you can avoid falls as your body is able to easily adjust to certain
changes in position and maintain the balance without the unnecessary pain. Of
course, this is good news to your bones as well, since a greater range of
movement will make you less prone to fractures.
As you stretch your muscles, you
also encourage increased blood circulation in your system. Improved blood
circulation, as you may have already known, is good for your heart, arteries,
brain and overall health. Proper blood
circulation will make you more energized, which is why it is not surprising
that it helps to stretch a bit when we feel a little sleepy or tired and need a
quick energy booster.
Prevents
muscle pains
If you are constantly experiencing
muscle pains, chances are, you aren’t stretching enough. As mentioned,
stretching can lengthen the muscles, making it more comfortable when you need
to bend or move in a wider range. In fact, the lack of regular stretching is
one of the reasons why muscle and bone injuries occur.
Enhances
posture
While poor posture is often
attributed to problems in the bones and spinal column, the tightened muscles
can also be a contributing factor. Basically, if your muscles on the back and
shoulders are restricted, the muscle pain will inevitably keep you from
maintaining a proper posture.
It is also interesting to know that you don’t even need to be exercising regularly
to enjoy the benefits of stretching, since stretching can be done on a separate
routine. (This is not to say though that regular exercise is not as important,
because it is – but let’s save that for another post).
So if you want to improve your flexibility, joint health and overall wellbeing,
then it’s probably high time to start stretching.
