What Does Stretching Do To Your Body

We all know that stretching is a great form of exercise and it can be taken up by people of any age. People since ages have told us that it improves the blood circulation in our body and it also prevents our body from injuries. We might sometimes be tempted to skip our stretching regime to run the extra mile or to just use that time for a break at the gym but experts say that it isn’t worth skipping because of the damages it might cause later. Have you ever pondered exactly what does stretching do to your body? If you haven’t thought about it yet, here is what it does to you.

Get A Break From Feeling Sluggish

Do you often feel tired by the time it is mid-afternoon? Do you feel like you don’t have any more energy left even to get up from your office chair and get your own coffee? Does your brain tend to slow down as the day progresses? Well, if your answer is yes to any of these questions then you might consider stretching as a solution to your sluggishness. A quick 5-minute stretch will wake you up and will boost your activity levels like no coffee in the world can. So, the next time you feel a bit slow, get up and do some basic stretches and you will instantly see a difference in yourself!

You’re less prone to trip on something and fall

When a study was conducted on 42 college-going students to see how long they would be able to stay stable on a stabilometer, the result was that the students who stretched for 30 minutes before the test were more stable than the students who simply rested before going on the stabilometer. This proves that stretching improves the muscle coordination and the blood flow to the brain which increased the brain activity which in turn helped the students balance well on the stabilometer.

Easy Movement With Less Friction And Pain

Stiffness in the muscles and creakiness in the joints can be avoided with regular stretching. However, it is very important to stretch the right way. Static stretching or stretching and holding should be strictly avoided and a range of motion exercises which include wrist bands, shoulder shrugs, knee lifts, etc. should be incorporated into the stretching regime. The goal is to keep the muscles and the joints moving along their full range of motion.

Make The Most Of Your Exercise

Whether you are a lifter or a runner, stretching should be a part of your exercise regime. When it comes to fitness, flexibility training is something that takes a backseat. But, when we look at reality, stretching is something which will allow a runner or a lifter to have better mobility and range of motion which in turn translates into better and more effective workouts. A person who stretches will get more out of a workout when compared to the person who doesn’t stretch even if the workout is exactly the same.

Stretching is recommended before a workout so that the body gets ready to exercise and warm-up. Also, stretching is also recommended after a workout so that the body gets enough time to cool down. Before a workout, dynamic stretching is recommended and after a workout, static stretching is recommended.

You’re Less Likely To Injure Yourself

By incorporating something as simple and as efficient as stretching, a person who is working out is less likely to injure himself/ herself because of the preparedness of the brain. By imbibing stretching into the warm-up, the brain switches automatically to work-out mode and it helps one in getting focused. This makes you a little less prone to injury as your brain is so focused and won’t let you misstep.

Lower Your Blood Sugar

It is a well known fact that exercise keeps the glucose levels in the body in check. It turns out that you don’t even need to exercise to get these benefits of keeping your blood sugar levels in check. A study found that people who did stretches for about 40 minutes and prior to that consumed a sugary drink had lower blood sugar levels than those who did not stretch. This proves that stretching helps in lowering the blood sugar levels.

Lower Your Stress

Does your back feel like it is in knots? Do you feel like your shoulders are touching your ears? Stretching can remove all the knots in the body and make one feel like the most relaxed person on the face of the earth, both mentally and physically. It has the ability to tame the tension in the body and the mind. Although, it is important to remember that stretching should not be overdone.

Improves Posture

Frequent stretching can help keep all the muscles and joints in an ideal condition. This will make sure that there won’t be any pains and this will also improve the posture of the person.

Better Blood Circulation

Whether you are a runner or a lifter, you will definitely have post-athletic soreness. This will come down only when there is enough blood flow to your muscles. By stretching, you can achieve just that. Better blood circulation also means improvement in the overall health of a person. Moreover, your heart rate will slow down, the cell growth and organ growth will increase and the blood pressure will be constant and uniform.

Optimism

Uneasiness is a very common thing these days and stretching is a perfect solution to that. A 10 minute stretch at the middle of a hectic day will fill you with extreme optimism like no other and it will give you the much-needed boost so that you can carry out your tasks with indefinite energy and zest.
These are some of the things that stretching does to our body. Stretching, indeed, is very beneficial and must be practiced regularly by every human. Go stretch and stay fit!

Takeaway Advice

Stretching is a great form of physical activity that helps you to become flexible, active and free from injuries. Perform it before going to bed or even after starting a workout.
It has multiple benefits on your body, and at the end of the day, it does no harm to your muscles or bones. Incorporate stretching exercises to your routine and reap endless benefits!