Even the most fitness-oriented people often forget to incorporate stretching into their daily routines. Choosing not to do so, however, can have several negative impacts on your health. This includes an increased risk of injury and decreased circulation. Since muscles slowly tighten over time, occasional stretching isn’t enough to reverse these negative effects. Increasing your flexibility may take weeks or months. Committing to stretch regularly is well worth it when you consider these many benefits of stretching daily.
Improve posture
Tight and weak muscles are essentially the same thing. As such, if your muscles feel wound up, you’re more likely to give into postural compensations. To improve your posture, consider incorporating daily stretches into your fitness regime.
Reduce the risk of injury
Poor flexibility can greatly increase your risk of injury. This is because tight and weak muscles are more likely to become injured if you suddenly stretch them during physical activity. Taking the time to practice regular stretches after properly warming up can help prevent such muscle strains.
Improve range of motion
Stretching regularly can help prevent your muscles from shortening and tightening over time. As a result, you can preserve your ability to fully extend your joints and move them freely in different directions.
Improve circulation
Regular stretching can help improve blood flow to your muscles. This increased circulation will help them receive the nourishment that they need as well as rid them of waste byproducts. As a result, you may experience shortened recovery time and reduced soreness. However, according to U.C. Davis Health, “Stretching will not head off delayed-onset muscle soreness – the kind that generally occurs the day after unaccustomed strenuous exercise.” As such, you can expect to experience the benefits of stretching over time rather than immediately.
Relieves stress
Stress can cause your muscles to become uncomfortably tight and tense. By loosening them, the relief that your body experiences will cause your mind to also feel more relaxed. As such, regular stretching can alleviate both the physical and mental impacts of stress.
If you’re looking to achieve these benefits, Libertyville Wellness Group can help. We design our rehabilitation and physical therapy programs to improve our patient’s flexibility and mobility. Whether you’re treating a new injury or chronic issue, our trained physical therapists will work with you to develop a treatment plan that suits your needs. Upon examination, this plan may also include massage therapy, nutrition counseling, or realignment treatment by our chiropractors in Libertyville, IL.
