| We've all heard it before: we need to stretch | | | | day, when your muscles have been warmed |
| whenever we want to join in a game of football | | | | naturally. |
| or when we go jogging. Ever since primary school, | | | | Stretching is not easy, no matter what the |
| we have been taught that stretching before | | | | professionals say, mainly for the reason that |
| partaking in any strenuous physical activity is vital | | | | stretching routines become very dull. Setting up a |
| if we want to avoid serious injury. All the top | | | | routine is no problem - sticking to it is a different |
| athletes do it, but that still isn't enough motivation | | | | matter. The best way to ensure that you |
| for us to do it on a daily basis. | | | | continue with your stretch routine is to make the |
| So what is the point? Why stretch? There are | | | | exercises more enjoyable. Instead of going about |
| actually many benefits of stretching. The obvious | | | | them alone, invite a friend or relative to join |
| reason - the one we've all been lectured about - is | | | | your routine. Tedious activities always seem more |
| that stretching reduces the risk of injury during | | | | interesting with company around. Or if you prefer |
| sports, and decreases pain after exercise. But do | | | | to operate alone, do your stretches in front of |
| we actually know why that is? When we stretch, | | | | the telly - during the news or your favourite |
| we circulate fresh oxygenated blood throughout | | | | program. This is the best way to get off the |
| the body and to your brain, which not only | | | | sofa, get your stretches done, and still do |
| improves how we are capable of functioning | | | | something you like. |
| physically and mentally, but it flushes out the | | | | Recently, there has been much debate over |
| unnecessary toxins in our body. As we get older, | | | | stretching: new experts now claim that static |
| our muscles, joints, and tendons lose much of | | | | stretching (doing stretches standing still) can |
| their elasticity and flexibility, so the more we | | | | actually weaken you muscles. There is no real |
| stretch in our youth, the longer we can remain | | | | evidence to support this, so you are well advised |
| mobile when we age. | | | | to find a balance between stretches (do a few |
| Stretching is also an effective stress-reliever. Your | | | | standing still, and some others by swinging your |
| muscles store excess tensions when you are | | | | leg back and forth). It is better to do shorter |
| under physical or emotional stress. Stretching the | | | | stretch sessions throughout the day, instead of |
| stress-targeted areas serves to dispel these | | | | longer ones. |
| tensions. However, the most important reason for | | | | In this new age of technology, you are constantly |
| stretching, from an osteopath's perspective, is to | | | | bombarded with new medical 'discoveries' or tips |
| maintain your back. The back can get stiff easily | | | | on how to do certain things, such as stretches. |
| because it can only move in three directions, so | | | | While most of these are useful, it is important for |
| as the back makes up the basis our | | | | you to realize what works for you, and what |
| musculoskeletal system, it is important that we | | | | doesn't. If a stretch does not work, do something |
| keep in as fluid and flexible as possible. | | | | different! Regardless of whether you are a top |
| It is best to stretch at least three times a week, | | | | athlete or just merely trying to stay healthy, |
| preferably in the mornings after a hot shower has | | | | doing stretches regularly is very important for |
| warmed up your muscles, or at the end of the | | | | your future wellbeing. |