10 Benefits of Stretching
What are the benefits of stretching? It’s not a secret that stretching is important and essential for our body.
Most of us know that we should stretch a little, or most likely a lot more, than what we are doing, but for some reason it seems to be this kind of exercise that is especially hard to turn into a habit. Probably because it can be fairly time consuming and let’s be honest, it is uncomfortable and sometimes even painful.
But let’s face it, if we want to take proper care of our body, it is just something we have to convince ourselves of doing. Knowing that there are a lot more benefits to it, apart from an increased flexibility, might help.
Below you will find the main benefits of stretching: (Please note that we are only referring to stretching that is done regularly and correctly, by which we mean daily or at least a few times a week, holding positions for at least 45 seconds, in order to achieve maximum results.)
1) IMPROVES RANGE OF MOTION & FLEXIBILITY
The most known advantage of stretching is the increased range of motion. Restricted flexibility comes down to tight muscles, which don’t allow our joints to use their full range of movement.
2) PREVENTS INJURIES
Another very important benefit is the prevention of injuries. If we aren’t flexible enough, the chances are high that we get hurt. Someone who doesn’t stretch at all is more likely to tear a muscle or twist a joint during a fall than somebody that is flexible, in which case the muscles stretch and follow the motion.
3) IMPROVES POSTURE
Bad posture is mainly caused by tight chest, lower back and hip flexor muscles. Especially focusing on elongating these muscle groups will improve our posture immensely.
4) REDUCES MUSCLE STIFFNESS
This benefit is self-explanatory. When we stretch, our muscles become more flexible and soft, which decreases muscle stiffness and makes moving less strenuous for our body.
5) INCREASES BLOOD FLOW
Stretching is hardly ever referred to as a workout, but it definitely is a form of exercise. When we stretch our muscles we challenge them, which not only increases the blood flow in that area, but also in our whole body.
6) IMPROVES PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE
Tight muscles and tendons restrict our movements. On the contrary, flexible muscles allow our joints to move more freely and use less energy to function. Therefore, we have more energy for physical performance.
7) REDUCES POST-EXERCISE SORENESS
During a workout muscles need to contract and tighten in order to perform. If we don’t proactively lengthen them after exercising, they will stay short and tight, which increases post exercise soreness. That soreness can be prevented or at least reduced by stretching.1
8) REDUCES JOINT PAIN
Especially joints, e.g. the shoulder joint, that aren’t very stable in terms of bone structure -ball and socket, rely on support from tendons (which attach to muscles) and ligaments. We need to make sure that our muscles, that impact our tendons, are flexible and strong enough in order to support the joint during movements. Too tight and weak muscles become dysfunctional and can cause bursitis or impingement, to only name a few.
9) CONNECTS BODY AND MIND
Anybody that has ever stretched has probably noticed that it feels uncomfortable, even a bit painful at times. Once that uncomfortable feeling arises, our current thoughts will stop and our mind is forced to focus on the area of distress to be able to deal with the uncomfortable feelings.
10) REDUCES STRESS
A connection between body and mind calms us down automatically and helps us to concentrate on the ‘now’. Stress only exists by worrying about the future.
We hope we could convince you that stretching has many benefits. Do yourself a favor and start stretching regularly. You will be surprised how much more comfortable you will move through life.
More information on how to stretch correctly and what different types of stretching exist will be coming soon.
