Stretching is a form of physical exercise in which a specific muscle or tendon (or muscle group) is deliberately flexed or stretched in order to improve the muscle’s felt elasticity and achieve comfortable muscle tone. The result is a feeling of increased muscle control, flexibility, and range of motion.
What does stretching actually do?
Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints. Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. Then, when you call on the muscles for activity, they are weak and unable to extend all the way.
Here are five benefits that stretching has.
- improve posture. Tight muscles can cause poor posture. …
- improve range of motion and prevents loss of range of motion. …
- decrease back pain. …
- help prevent injury. …
- decrease muscle soreness.