Exercise
9 Benefits Of Stretching That Are Surprisingly Impactful
You don’t have to be a Yogi to focus on flexibility.
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If you can work a quick stretch of your arms, legs, shoulders, hips, or back into your daily routine, you may see improved flexibility, stamina, and range of motion over time.
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1. Improved Range Of Motion
Studies show that stretching can improve your joint range of motion. This is extra helpful for moms who have to constantly twist around and reach into the back seat of a minivan.Brothers91/E+/Getty Images2. More Efficient Muscles
If you can optimize every other area of your life, why not include your muscles? Stretching allows your muscles to be as effective as possible, according to The Mayo Clinic, so you’ll reap the maximum benefits of movement.Luis Alvarez/Getty Imageshxyume/E+/Getty Images
3. Increased Overall Flexibility
This seems like a given, but the more you stretch, the more flexible you’ll be overall. As Harvard Health notes, it won’t happen all at once, but over time you’ll see results from daily stretches.
4. Improved Endurance
When you stretch, you can give your body the opportunity to gain better overall endurance for physical activity, as a study published by the American College of Sports Medicine concluded.Nastasic/E+/Getty Images5. Decreased Risk Of Injury
Nobody wants to get hurt, but injuries can happen. Stretching before physical activity can decrease your injury risk, as The Mayo Clinic reported.Getty6. Increased Blood Flow To Muscles
Daily stretching can improve blood flow to the muscles and one study in The Journal of Physiology concluded that that leg stretches specifically may even help prevent strokes and lower blood pressure, according to Harvard Health.Charday Penn, Oscar Wong/Getty ImagesRifka Hayati/E+/Getty Images
7. Rehabilitate Muscles After Injury
Depending on the type of injury, different stretching techniques can be used to successfully rehabilitate the body, according to a study published in The International Journal Of Sports Physical Therapy.