Can simple physical movements improve your overall health, wellness, and quality of life? In the case of stretching, the answer is unequivocally yes. Stretching exercises are an important part of physical therapy for this reason.
You might be surprised at how many benefits stretches can provide. Here are some of the main reasons why our Freehold, NJ physical therapist might recommend stretches to improve your life. If you’re curious to learn more, contact Rehability in Freehold, NJ today.
What is the significance of stretching?
Many common aches and pains are caused by tight muscles and restricted movement. Maintaining your body’s flexibility is essential for good health. Your circulatory, respiratory, lymphatic, and musculoskeletal systems will benefit from this. Normal blood and lymphatic fluids circulate the body more easily when your tissues are flexible, oxygenating your tissues properly. This gives you energy, relieves pain, and allows you to go about your daily activities without feeling tired.
Stretching is also essential for dedicated athletes, weekend warriors, and anyone looking to improve their physical performance. If your muscles aren’t aching or sore after a workout, you may not feel the need to stretch. However, there are several potential consequences of failing to stretch properly after exercise. If you don’t stretch enough, you may experience stiffness. Muscles and tendons that are not properly stretched after exercise may be more prone to injury.
Stretching and stress relief
Stretching has numerous advantages for helping your body stay healthy. One of the most important is stress reduction. Everyday life presents numerous challenges, and the resulting stress can be stored in your muscles.
Tightness, spasms, and chronic discomforts such as headaches and neck pain result. Stress also causes your body to release “fight or flight” hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These imbalances can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to viruses and other diseases. Another dangerous side effect of chronic stress is hypertension.
Regular stretches help your body release all that pent-up stress. By relaxing and loosening your muscles, you can maintain better control over your blood pressure, avoid chronic muscle pain, and keep your immune system ready for anything.
Stretching can improve your tissue health
Are you used to seeing athletes perform a series of stretching exercises prior to a competition or training session? They’re not just stretching for the sake of stretching; they’re attempting to improve their athletic performance while also protecting themselves from injury.
Tissues that are tight, stiff, or otherwise unprepared for challenges may tear, resulting in a strain or sprain that ends your participation prematurely.
Stretching is a safe, gentle way to work out the kinks and prepare your tissues for action. You can reduce your risk of soft tissue injury by becoming more limber. As you work or play, your tissues will become more capable and responsive.
Stretching after your activity is just as beneficial; it prevents your muscles from seizing up and getting stiff once they’re no longer being exerted.
How to achieve improved mobility
Individuals suffering from chronic pain are frequently prescribed various exercises by physical therapists. Stretching is especially important if you’ve become less mobile due to conditions like osteoarthritis. The less you move your joints, the more likely it is that your muscles and connective tissues will lose length.
This modification obviously restricts your joint motion even more and causes you even more pain. Stretching naturally supplements physical therapy recommendations like walking, heat therapy, or massage therapy by increasing blood flow to painful joints and expanding your pain-free range of motion.
Chronic pain syndromes often involve tight muscles. Syndromes such as fibromyalgia and its cousin, myofascial pain syndrome, cause muscle knots that limit muscle motion and trigger referred pain to other parts of the body. Regular stretching can help you “untie those” painful knots.
Are you ready to begin? Please contact Rehability in Freehold, NJ right away
There are correct and incorrect ways to stretch. For starters, different types of stretches provide different benefits. Your specific situation may necessitate active stretches (moving a body part without assistance), passive stretches (holding or supporting the body part), or both.
Stretching can also be harmful if done incorrectly. Our physical therapist can assist you in stretching safely and effectively, so please contact our physical therapy center in Freehold, NJ right away!
Sources:
- https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-stretching
- https://www.painscience.com/tutorials/trigger-points.php
- http://web.mit.edu/tkd/stretch/stretching_4.html
- https://eastsidesportsrehab.com/5-ways-stretching-can-improve-your-overall-health-2/
- http://guidetoptpractice.apta.org/content/1/SEC40.extract
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/stretching-to-help-arthritis-pain
