Stretching Into Better Health: The Magic Bullet for Mobility

Stretching Into Better Health
The muscles and connective tissues within the body are responsible for every movement and task we do as humans. From simply breathing and our heart's beating, to walking and talking, the animation of life hinges on these constituents of our organism.

Stretching the muscles and tissues is a bottom-line approach to overall physical wellbeing. Every self-care routine should have stretching sessions as a key component. Stretching is one of the closest things there is to an actual magic bullet to ensure healthy longevity.

The benefits of stretching are wide ranging. With proper and routine stretches the body increases its flexibility, adding to the range of motion of the joints. This in turn decreases the risk for physical injury, creating a system that continually benefits. The dividends from stretching are immense and compounding.

The Body and Stretching
Due to the nature of how our muscles and tissues work, if they are not stretched to their fullness they begin to compress and tighten into shorter lengths, which in turn reduces the range of motion in the joints, causing a cascade of conditions that can lead to injury and inflammation.

Stretching addresses this directly by gently pushing the muscles to their full length, which keeps them more flexible and limber, and less prone to injury. The muscles are then less tense, and the circulation of the body is improved, allowing for a more efficient flow of nutrients in and waste out.

In addition, regular stretching can lead to improved posture and a stronger mind-body connection. This can lead to improved mental wellbeing, and can dramatically reduce stress, which is often carried in the body.

Easy Does It
While the benefits of stretching are vast and well worth the time, it is incredibly important to do it correctly. Improper technique and pushing it too far can achieve the opposite of the goal and cause injury.

If possible, having a trained professional instruct you in the right stretches for you is ideal. However, there are a wealth of simple, beginner focused stretching videos available online, with Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic offering some excellent and accurate options.

Try and hold each stretch for around 30 seconds and perform the same stretch 3 times per session to achieve a deep, limbering stretch. You should feel tension and some discomfort within the stretch, but not pain. Pain is a sign you might be overdoing a stretch or performing it incorrectly.

The Final Stretch
Our bodies are under a lot of stress and tension as we traverse the daily tasks of our lives. Our muscles allow for this by virtue of being able to contract. But this virtue quickly becomes a vice if not given some attention. By balancing the tendency to contract with its opposite, that of stretching, the muscles and tissues maintain the necessary flexibility and can continue to be the basis for a happy, healthy life.

The goal is to increase range of motion of the joints, allowing un-impinged movement of the body. When this is optimal there is less cause for injury, which can arise from tense, tightened and overworked muscles.

By doing purposeful, slow and gentle stretches, we enhance our self-care immeasurably. The process of stretching bestows huge benefits to the entire human body. When done correctly it is an undeniable way to improve and maintain overall health and wellbeing and should be a cornerstone of everyone's self-care program.