The top three reasons why you need to start stretching

If there’s one thing that you can count on a physical therapist introducing into every session, it’s stretching. Yes, building strength and endurance is important. But whether you’re an athlete or someone coping with the aches and pains of aging, increasing your flexibility through stretching is crucial. Read on to learn the top three reasons why you should start stretching regularly. 

  1. Improvements in flexibility

One of the biggest reasons to start stretching is it can greatly increase flexibility. Increased flexibility can benefit your body in several ways. 

For one thing, joints that are more flexible make it easier to walk and do other normal activities. Greater muscle flexibility helps reduce muscle fatigue. This means your muscles won’t tire as quickly while you’re working out. Even if you’re fairly stiff now, doing more stretches each day will gradually reduce stiffness and increase flexibility.

  1. Increased understanding of your muscles

Another reason to start stretching is that it helps you learn more about your muscles and how they’re connected. When your calves start feeling a bit tight after a run, it’s obvious that more stretching is needed. But we sometimes forget the sheer interconnectedness of our bodies. 

If you’re experiencing hip pain, for example, stretching shouldn’t be limited to your upper leg. Your glutes and lower back muscles can all play a big part in creating hip pain relief. Likewise, improving your posture through stretching your torso can provide the kind of support you need to improve your seated posture. In turn, this can help you avoid future hip pain.

  1. Enhanced athletic performance

If you’re an athlete, you know that the more conditioning your joints, ligaments and muscles get, the greater your advantage in your sport. A reason many athletes start a stretching routine is to help increase such conditioning.

Many types of athletes can benefit from stretching. Bodybuilders can recover from their reps more quickly by stretching tightened muscles as a cool-down. Golfers can get a longer reach by increasing range of motion through the hips and shoulders. Swimmers can keep their strokes even by stretching their arms and shoulders before getting into the pool. In fact, there are few competitive sports for which stretching doesn’t offer an advantage.

SSOR can help you find a personalized stretching routine

Ready to start stretching more? Our physical therapy team at SSOR is ready and willing to help you develop an individualized stretching routine. We’ll start by performing a complimentary screening on you. This is intended to reveal the parts of your body that could benefit from more stretching. Then, our team can build you a personalized physical therapy plan that includes a stretching routine that fits your specific needs.  

Can’t get into one of our clinics? Don’t worry! We offer several treatment options that you can use without leaving home, including at-home therapy and virtual care sessions. We can even help you get started with therapy if you don’t have a doctor’s referral. 

Contact us today for more information about our physical therapy services or to schedule an initial appointment.