Monday, October 27, 2008

Why Stretching Is Good For You

By Pat Lowe

One of the most beneficial forms of exercise is stretching, particularly when done regularly. The reason is that it gives the body many valuable benefits. Experts have been extolling the virtues of stretching exercises for many years now. Millions of instructional stretching DVDs are sold each year.

Knowing the benefits that stretching provides to the body may make people more inclined to stretch on a regular basis. The major benefit of stretching is that it improves your body's flexibility. When you do the exercises correctly, you strengthen the tendons attaching the muscles to the bone; this impacts almost all the body's muscles.

There is usually a lower chance of suffering muscle sprains and strains if you stretch often. The reason for this is that the body's muscles get used to moving in various directions. In addition, they become resilient enough to handle unexpected movements, which can lead to injury of the muscles or tendons. You can also improve body strength with regular stretching. This is achieved by the continual challenges placed on the muscles.

Since stretching exercises are low impact, they can be performed by any age group. Stretching exercises for seniors and people with limited mobility help them to regain lost strength and rebuild their muscles. The exercises are also appropriate for young children. There are lots of places where you can find group stretching classes for toddlers and their parents.

The exercise that the stretches provide for the body increases the amount of blood flow through the body. This can improve a number of different ailments. Your body eliminates wastes more rapidly due to improved blood flow. It also moves oxygen from the lungs to the brain and other organs in larger amounts. The blood also flows through the muscles of the body faster. This increases the strength and the health of the muscles in a dramatic way.

Stretching is one of the few types of exercise that provides benefits to the entire body. And it doesn't matter how long or how frequently the exercises are done. Doing stretching exercises frequently will provide a bigger benefit and faster results. But even moderate stretching can improve the health of the person doing the exercises and give their body more mobility.

The benefits associated with these low impact exercises are more than enough reason for everyone to stretch on a regular basis. - 15485

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