Regardless of what your fitness goals are, we just hope they involve stretching before and after. There are so many benefits of stretching that can help in your overall fitness so make sure you add stretching to your workout regime! Here’s why you need to start doing it now:

• It is necessary to stretch before and after exercise to prevent injury. When you stretch, then you can allow your muscles to loosen up and get prepared for the movements and exercise that will be demanded by the routine. Stretching allows the muscles to move with gentle ease through a wide range of movements.

• Stretching before and after exercise allows the body to gently pull on all the muscles that will be used, or have been used, decreasing the chance of tearing and injury. When a muscle tears, that is when injury occurs. If a person jumps right into an exercise routine without stretching first, a tear is one of the worst things that can happen which is due to muscle stiffness.

• It can help reduce the stiffness that occurs with exercise. If a person gets too stiff they are likely to not continue with the exercise and it will affect their overall fitness. Stretching after an exercise routine allows the muscles to expand and relax any over tense parts of the body. This is when stiffness is reduces, when the bodies muscles can go back to a relaxed state after being used and worked.

• Physical therapist and doctors use stretching to help many people recover from all kinds of injury. The stretching is so important to fitness because without stretching there would be a lot of people around who could get their muscle ailments to recover.

• Stretching increases flexibility, which in turn decreases the chance of injury. Flexibility and stretching go hand in hand are so important to fitness. When a person has flexibility from stretching then they can enjoy the benefit of good physical fitness. Stretching allows the body’s muscles to gently be loosened and flexible

• Stretching increases flexibility. Increased flexibility of the neck, shoulders, and upper back may improve respiratory function. Which is so important to the overall fitness of the body.

• Stretching, or the lack of creates a snowball effect if it is not done properly. When stretching is not done with relaxed ease before and after an exercise routine, the exercise causes the muscles to become tight and stiff. Stretching is then needed to overcome the stiff and tight muscle in the body. And once a gin if stretching is not done properly then more stretching is needed to loosen the tight muscle and get the body back to good physical fitness.

• Always remember to stay relaxed and take your time. Do not be rushed. The muscles need time to stretch properly to avoid injury. Stretching should not be painful. If there is pain try something a little different or consult your doctor. If you are stretching to help with injury you should be consulting a doctor to insure good proper fitness.

• Stretching before and after a typical exercise routine will help your body and be so important to fitness. Stretching unblocks twisted nerves, it allows the nerve and the muscle to better connect, it helps to correctly position muscle fibers and it is a great strength builder.

Stay tuned for a post on a full body stretch to do before and after your workout!