How Stretching Can Help You Prevent Injuries?

/ Physiotherapy / By

During these difficult times, you might be finding yourself sitting for most of the day. This can be dangerous as sitting for prolonged periods of time can negatively impact your health. Research has shown that there is a strong correlation between sitting for long periods of time to a number of health conditions, such as increased blood pressure, obesity, neck pain, and lower back pain. 

This is where stretching can really help in alleviating those symptoms and lead you to a healthier lifestyle. 

Keep reading to see how stretching can help you stay happy and healthy.

Why is it important to stretch?
Stretching is an important component in keeping your muscles flexible, strong, and healthy. During low activity events such as sitting for long periods of time, can cause your muscles to shorten which gives it the feeling of tightness. And when you try to use the muscle after a long period of inactivity, your muscle will be weak and wouldn’t be able to extend all the way. This puts you at risk of injuries such as lower back and neck pains.
The benefits of stretching

Stretching has many benefits to support a healthy lifestyle. To just name a few, stretching can:

  • Reduce the risk of injuries
  • Increase flexibility
  • Increase energy
  • Decrease stress
  • Improve the quality of life
  • Increase range of motion
  • Improve blood flow and circulation
  • Improve posture
  • Fix imbalances
How to stretch properly

The common misconception is that you should stretch before exercising. But studies have shown that it is actually the opposite. Stretching straight after a long period of inactivity could actually cause more harm than good, as your muscle fibers are not prepared and this could lead to damages. This is why it is important to do some light exercise such as a 5-10 minute walk prior to stretching to warm up the muscles and prevent any injuries.
To stretch properly, make sure you are holding the stretch for around 30 seconds.  During the stretch, you should be feeling constant tension in the area you are stretching. If you feel any pain during a stretch, you should stop immediately, as this could be a sign of injury or tissue damage. If the injury persists you should speak to a physiotherapist.

Conclusion
Stretching is an important, but commonly overlooked component of a healthy lifestyle. As you get older your body will be more prone to injuries, but this doesn’t mean you can’t prevent them. Once you incorporate stretching into your daily routine, your body will thank you in the long run. Stretching is a simple yet effective way to a healthy and happy life.

If have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help! We have offices in Brampton, and Hamilton (Hamilton Mountain and Stoney Creek).