Stretching. It’s a task that’s so easy to do. Yet so many people simply don’t do it.
The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that people stretch their major muscle groups at least two times per week. Yes, building strength and endurance is important. But whether you’re an athlete or someone coping with the aches and pains of aging, increasing your flexibility through stretching is crucial. Read on to learn about the top three reasons to start stretching.
- Improved range of motion
How far your joints can move in all directions influences virtually every moment of the day. Tense muscles can hamper how far you can flex and extend your limbs and torso. They can make it harder to twist your neck to see behind you when driving. They can make it tough to move your knee freely. These are all reasons to start integrating stretching into your daily routine. Even if you’re fairly stiff now, doing stretches each day can gradually reduce stiffness and increase flexibility.
- Targeting the actual sources of pain
Another reason to start stretching is it can help you reduce many types of pain. When your calves start feeling a bit tight after a run, it’s obvious that they need to be stretched. But we sometimes forget the sheer interconnectedness of our bodies. Pain in one part of the body can often be related to muscle tension in a completely different area.
If you’re experiencing lower back pain, for example, stretching your legs during physical therapy can be as important as stretching your back. Your hips, upper thighs and hamstrings can all play a big part in reducing lower back pain. Likewise, improving your posture through stretching your torso can also be helpful. It can keep your spine from compressing, which can help you avoid shoulder and neck pain.
- Enhancing athletic performance
Athletes in particular have an important reason to start stretching. If you’re an athlete, you know that the more conditioning your joints, ligaments and muscles get, the greater your advantage in your sport.
Bodybuilders can recover from their reps more quickly by stretching tightened muscles as a cool-down. Golfers can get a longer reach by increasing range of motion through their hips and shoulders. Swimmers can keep their strokes even by limbering up their arms and shoulders. There are few competitive sports for which stretching doesn’t offer an advantage.
Border Therapy Services can help you develop personalized stretching routines
Of course, there are plenty of other ways that stretching can improve your life. Many people enter a Zen-like state as they stretch. Others get a sense of pride from being more limber.
When you’re ready to add stretches to your daily routine, consider getting started through physical therapy. Our Border Therapy Services team can walk you through the best ways to tackle your situation. Static or dynamic stretching? Pre- or post-activity stretching? A Border physical therapist can help you learn the basics.
Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.