Before embarking on a new exercise regime, it would be interesting to ask why is stretching important. When talking about fitness and flexibility, most people think about heavy-weight lifting and cardiovascular exercises.
Only a few people hint about the significance of incorporating simple exercises such as stretching into their tight schedules. While stretching your muscles comes with a few known benefits, fitness experts suggest that this flexing has packed more than we can imagine.
For instance, gym enthusiasts add this workout to their routines before and after heavy-weight lifting since they believe it prepares the muscles for the coming tasks. Athletes also start with simple stretching techniques to awaken their stiff muscles and joints.
Therefore, to understand why is stretching important, this article gives detailed benefits of stretching and why you should add it to your workout routines.
Why is Stretching Important?
Stretching is important because, like any other exercise, it increases one’s flexibility, enhances blood flow to your muscles, and improves posture and alignment.
Stretching also helps to prevent back pain, reduces stress and tension, and enhances your mood and focus. Although different types of stretches can have different benefits, it is always recommended to maintain a regular stretching routine and follow the set guidelines to see their proposed benefits.
The Importance of Stretching
Stretching forms an integral part of any exercise, even though most people do not stretch before and after physical exercise. For this reason, you may be left wondering if this flexing technique has any impact on your health or performance. Also, most people think that stretching is only meant for runners and gym enthusiasts.
However, according to physical therapists, stretching is not only meant to be performed in gyms, trails, or sports grounds. Performing this simple exercise at home also comes with numerous benefits, as discussed below:
Stretching Enhances General Flexibility
Muscle flexibility plays a crucial role in one’s overall health and makes handling everyday activities easier. Someone can achieve flexibility by following extensive workout routines.
However, starting with simple stretching techniques can give a quick stimulation to the stiff muscles and improve overall performance. Stretching also delays the reduced mobility experienced as someone ages.
Also, studies show that people performing dynamic stretching before demanding physical activities have relaxed and prepared muscles than those that start exercising without stretching. Therefore, stretching loosens the muscles and prepares them for daily activities, accompanied by improved performance.
Stretching Promotes Blood Circulation
Stretching regularly and properly enhances blood flow to the muscles, which facilitates the transportation of nutrients in the body. Adequate nutrients supply nourishes the muscles, which promotes muscles recovery, in case of injuries. It also reduces muscle soreness, also known as delayed onset muscles soreness (DOMS).
The enhanced blood circulation also eliminates more waste by-products from muscles tissues and the body. Proper stretching, therefore, goes a long way in leaving the body fresh and nourished, which improves general wellness.
Stretching Corrects and Improves Body Posture
Sitting in one position for a long time can greatly affect the spinal cord and cause an imbalanced posture. The effect is mostly experienced by those sitting behind their computers or steering wheels for more than three hours. The positions are characterized by rounded shoulders and forward heads, which lead to poor posture.
According to physical therapists, such people are likely to complain of the chest, back, and hip pains caused by tight muscles. Therefore, to correct an imbalanced posture, it is recommended to stretch the pectorals, upper trapezius, and hamstring muscles regularly. Such people can spare at least 10 minutes of stretching to prevent muscle stiffness.
It Improves Range of Motion
As we age, our muscles and joints lose flexibility and range of motion. The increased stiffness will eventually deny us the freedom of movement and cause joint pains.
Unfortunately, the effects are not only experienced in old age since young people can also lose range of motion, especially if they fail to exercise regularly.
Such people are only likely to pick running and other exercises to improve their range of motion and ignore the importance of stretching.
According to studies, stretching regularly and properly counteracts the reduced motion and gives muscles freedom of movement. For instance, static and dynamic stretches can increase the range of motion effectively.
Nevertheless, others suggest that proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching is more effective in improving the range of motion. That is because it stretches the muscles to their limit to give fast results.
It Prevents and Heals Back Pain
Back pain is caused by various factors, including poor posture and stressed pelvis muscles. As mentioned earlier, sitting in a poor position exerts pressure on the spinal cord, which goes a long way in causing back, shoulder, and neck pain.
Back pain is also categorized into lower and upper back pains, though all are a result of stiffed hamstrings, hip flexors, and pelvis muscles. Stretching at regular intervals, even when on a tight schedule, reduces stress in these regions and heals the pain resulting from a back injury.
Regular stretching also prevents future back pain by strengthening the muscles and eliminating the risk of back injury.
Simple stretching techniques such as leg flexing, arms stretching, and back twisting can significantly eliminate the accumulated pressure and activate back muscles.
Stretching Makes One Feel Good
When talking about why stretching is important, we cannot forget to mention the feel-good effect that results from it. We have also seen people asking how stretching can make them feel good.
Therefore, all we can say is that this simple exercise makes the body feel good in three main ways; relieving stress, calming the mind, and preventing tension headaches.
For example, stretching loosens the muscles in areas likely to be suppressed by physical and emotional stress such as the neck, shoulders, and back.
It also gives a mental break, especially a stretching technique that involves mindfulness and meditation. As a result, it reduces the accumulated tension that may cause headaches.
However, it is recommended to follow a proper diet, ensure adequate hydration, and have adequate rest after every exercise to experience these benefits. One should also choose a stretching method that focuses on areas likely to hold more stress.
Final Thoughts On Why is Stretching Important
Stretching has more hidden benefits than you had ever imagined. Besides increasing blood circulation and supply, it improves the body’s range of motion and enhances the overall performance.
It also makes one feel good by reducing stress and headaches. These are just a few benefits as to why is stretching important.
However, to have the most out of stretching, it is recommended to warm up before stretching, be gently, and remain consistent. Observing these stretching safety tips prevents muscle injuries and ensures you remain committed to your program.
