More and more people are realizing that exercise is instrumental to their health and longevity and that is why they are embracing exercise to ward off lifestyle ailments. In the midst of workouts such as cardio and gymming, people often forget the humble stretches. Remember, your fitness routine will be incomplete without the benefits of stretching because it has unique features that other exercise types don’t.  

A Few Advantages Of Stretching:

1. Makes You More Flexible

When you do stretching exercises every day, your body will become flexible which boosts your overall health. So that means stretching will help to eliminate muscle ache and joint pain and help you go about your everyday work with ease.

2. Improves Your Range of Motion

Stretching reduces joint pain and also loosens stiff joints, which means you can utilize the entire range of motion of all the joints of your body.  

3. It Makes Your Other Physical Activities Easier

All experts will advise you to do a few stretches before you start your exercise routine. This warms up your muscles before a hard workout.

Stretching first thing in the morning will keep you in good shape throughout the day and lets you perform daily activities with more precision and ease.

4. Improves Blood Circulation

One of the major benefits of stretching is that it increases the flow of blood to all your muscles. Blood carries with it oxygen- something that muscles need to perform their functions. The more oxygen they get, the less they will complain after a hard day of work. Moreover, increased blood flow rapidly repairs worn-out muscles.

Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints. Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. Then, when you call on the muscles for activity, they are weak and unable to extend all the way. That puts you at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)

5. Stretching Will Improve Your Posture

Poor posture is the result of muscle imbalance and it is shockingly common in people of all age groups. Stretching in conjunction with strength training helps in aligning your muscles and correcting your posture. This will also reduce the pain and discomfort that arise from improper posture.

6. Stretching is a Stress Buster

Stretching can make you feel good- not just physically but also psychologically. Stretching triggers the production of happiness hormones (endorphins)   that can instantly improve your mood. Stretching can calm your mind, boost concentration, attention span and improve mindfulness. They can also reduce headaches. Read more about different types of relaxation techniques that help you fight stress.  

Regularly stretching the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the spine is an important element of all back exercise programs. Always consult a physician if you experience low back pain for a prolonged duration.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

7. It Relaxes Your Muscles

A sedentary lifestyle, physical injuries or excess stress can stiffen your muscles and limit your movement. Muscles that are especially prone to react to physical and psychological stress are the shoulder, neck and upper back muscles. One of the benefits of stretching is that it can help relax these muscles.

Stretching has a feel-good factor. That’s not all, it can do a world of good for your muscles and joints. So, if you are not doing it already, start stretching right away.

Read More: 7 Health Benefits of Exercise

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