When Should I Stretch?
Most of us only stretch before exercising or after, or maybe we stretch when we notice a muscle is “tight”. But really, stretching should be part of our daily routine.
During the day, the majority of us are sedentary (sitting at a computer all day) and rarely get to move around. This leads to tightness, stiffness, and less blood low throughout our muscles. You have to remember that the body was made to move. Our body craves motion. If you stay in one position for too long, you create more immobility. Thus, decreasing blood flow, shortening the muscle, decreasing joint mobility, and weakening the muscle.
Stretching throughout the day can help to increase blood flow, stretch and lengthen tight muscles, boost oxygen flow to your muscles to boost nutrients, and prevent injuries by keeping muscles strong and flexible.
Muscles that need stretching tend to be the ones that are used frequently and feel tight. Make sure to stretch safely and follow these tips to help you get started:
Only stretch warm muscles. Stretching a “cold” muscle or a muscle that hasn’t been used in a while is not recommended because of risk of injury.
Make sure to hold your stretch and keep it steady. Use proper form when stretching to help you gain the most benefit from the stretch but also avoid injury.
Avoid painful movements. If you are feeling any pain or discomfort, lessen the intensity of the stretch by modifying your position. Avoid stretching through sharp, shooting, stabbing, numbness, or tingling type pain.
It is important to stretch, but you can stretch too much. Find the healthy balance and listen to your body.
While stretching throughout the workday is good preventative care, sometimes aches and pains require a more targeted approach.
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