Why Stretching Is More Important Than You Think

It is generally accepted that stretching is an important part of any training session. It is one of the key points that beginners should know when they decide to work out. However, most people tend to dismiss stretching as trivial when compared to a full workout routine. However, stretching daily holds many health benefits that will help improve your quality of life. Here are a few ways that stretching is more important than you think. 

Improves Posture

Posture is not just about the manner you stand; it also refers to the manner you move. People will almost always have poor posture when their chest, back, and hip muscles are tight. Many of the activities we do today exacerbate poor posture, as a significant portion of our daily lives is spent sitting in front of a computer or looking at a phone. You can improve your posture by simply taking a few minutes to stretch your  pectoralis, trapezius, and hamstrings.

Improves Your Range of Motion

Your range of motion refers to the extent at which you can move your limbs. As we age, we tend to lose our range of motion, which limits our movements. Stretching helps to maintain and even improve a muscle’s range of motion, which is also why we often see athletes stretching before a game or before training.

Relieves Back Pain

If you exhibit poor posture for prolonged periods, you’re highly likely to develop pain in your back because your nerves could also get impeached. Knowing how to stretch your sciatic nerve will help you relieve a lot of back pain. This is especially important for people who are entering mid to late adulthood.

Minimizes the Risk of Injury

Stretching helps prime your muscles for rigorous activity. It should be noted that dynamic stretches that mimic the movements you’re about to perform are ideal, as their effects last much longer than static stretches, which are meant for cooling down rather than warming up.

Some examples of dynamic stretches are arm and shoulder rotations for fighters, and leg rotations for runners. Performing explosive movements without priming your muscles will result in injury because the muscle isn’t elastic enough at the time it was forced to exert a movement.

Helps Relieve Muscle Soreness

Stretching is also performed after a workout because it facilitates blood flow to your muscles. The increased blood flow will help your body transport the nutrients that are necessary for muscle recovery and growth. For this purpose, you’re going to want to stick to static stretches, which are performed by holding a stretch for a set period of time.

Muscles naturally tighten when under stress as a natural response. Stretching will help alleviate both the pain and soreness from a training session.

Taking time to stretch can help improve your overall health. While it may not be the key to a significantly healthier body, it can significantly improve your results and your overall health, as stretching can improve your performance in physical activities, which means you get more out of your training sessions.