Stretching improves your flexibility, and flexibility keeps your joints healthy and prevents other injuries. Stretching also eases aches and pains in your body later in life, when your muscles and tendons tend to degrade.

A Quick Overview on Stretching

When getting ready to exercise, many trainers will suggest stretching as part of your pre-workout. While you don’t want to stretch while your muscles are cold, start with some light movements to move your muscles and begin to stretch. Stretching while you aren’t warmed up a bit can lean to muscle strains and pulls.

Be sure to move slowly through your stretches, and hold them rather than bounce. Smooth, graceful motions keep your muscles safe and allow you to feel your limits comfortably.

You don’t want to stretch out to the point at which it hurts. You want to feel the muscle stretching; if it starts to hurt, take a breath, and back off the stretch until the pain subsides. 

Don’t Forget to Breathe

Breathing is an important part of stretching. The oxygen you take in helps keep the blood flow to your muscles with a healthy amount of oxygen, which allows them to flex and heal.

Take in a deep breath before the stretch, exhale as you move into it until you have reached the fully stretched position. Breathe in and out as you hold the stretch. 

Take it Easy

It would be best if you held the stretches for longer than you would feel necessary to be effective. A slow 20-25 second count is recommended to maximize benefits. Try to stretch each muscle group, but especially stretch groups if you plan on working them out. 

Always stretch after exercising. Take a brief cool-down period of about 5 minutes, then move through some stretches to help with next-day soreness. 

Why Stretching is a Good Idea

Stretching is an excellent form of everyday easy movement that does great things for your body. Stretching helps with poor posture, tight muscles, rehabilitation, and increasing your range of motion. Be sure to carefully go through your stretching motions and pay attention to your body’s signals. 

Quick Care Med has a trained staff prepared and ready to treat strained or sprained muscles. Click Here to find your local office or click here to make a Telemedicine appointment.

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