Why Stretching is Important for Everyone!

Our bodies are designed for hard work and lots of movement and now that we no longer hunt or farm to provide our food, or even walk everywhere and do all the housework manually – everybody’s level of fitness is reducing.

The fact is that people of all ages now need to do planned exercise and gentle stretching is suitable for almost every age and condition!

Benefits of stretching

Stretching is used extensively in physiotherapy treatment to help people regain flexibility after an injury and to improve mobility for arthritis sufferers.  For sportsmen and women, regular stretching exercises are useful for maintaining flexibility, because there’s less risk of injury to muscles and joints that are using the full range of movements regularly.

Repetitive strain injuries - RSI

This type of injury is becoming more common every year as both office and factory workers are forced you to use a restricted range of movements. Ligaments and tendons that don’t get any exercise become tight and inflexible making you vulnerable to damage.

Injuries often happen when people who don’t get much exercise stretch up to a high shelf or pick up something heavy.  The consequences can be painful and take a long time to heal, but regular stretching can help you avoid RSI and other painful, debilitating conditions. 

Physiotherapy

Stretching is an essential part of body maintenance because it stimulates the blood flow to muscles.  Blood carries necessary oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body and without sufficient activity, the circulation becomes sluggish and your heart and lung function suffer.

The best way to learn about stretching is to consult a physiotherapist who can design an individualised stretching program taking into account your medical history, level of fitness and any other relevant factors.

Prevention is better . . .

Once the physio has shown you how to easy it is to use gentle stretching to improve your health and fitness, you’ll be able to continue at home - with no gym fees or expensive equipment!  If you think exercise is boring, stretching is perfect for you - because you can do it in front of the t.v!

If you make time to do the simple stretching exercises that gently work your body - you’ll be using natural, preventive medicine at its best!