Stretching or stretching muscles is not only useful if done before exercise. The benefits of stretching for body health can also be obtained if you routinely do it in between daily activities or while working in the office.
Stretching is a warm-up movement that is generally done before exercise. This movement aims to prepare the body's muscles before doing more intense movements so as not to get injured. So, what are the benefits of stretching for health?
Various Benefits of Stretching
Not only when they want to exercise, many people also do stretching or stretching muscles when their bodies start to feel stiff and sore. In fact, the 'ngulet' movement when you wake up by stretching your arms up is also one of the stretching movements. Stretching movements are also good for pregnant women.
When done regularly, there are many benefits of stretching that you can get, including:
1. Increase body flexibility
As you age, your body will become less flexible or flexible, especially if you don't move or exercise often. This can make activities less comfortable.
To maintain flexibility and muscle strength of the body, you can do stretching regularly. This movement can keep muscles flexible, strong, and healthy. In addition, the benefits of stretching are also good for maintaining the health and strength of various joints in the body.
With regular exercise and stretching, you will be prevented from various complaints, such as joint pain or stiffness and muscle tension.
2. Smooth blood circulation
The habit of often sitting or staring at the computer for too long can make blood circulation in the body, for example in the legs, neck, and shoulders, less smooth. This is what makes that area of the body easy to stiff, achy, or painful.
Stretching between daily activities is useful for increasing blood flow to the muscles in the area, thus making the body feel more comfortable.
3. Improve posture
When using a cell phone, the body will usually bend with the head down. This poor posture over time can make the neck muscles weak, so there is a risk of triggering joint and muscle disorders in the neck, such as neck pain.
To prevent this, do stretching by lifting your head and stretching your chest muscles. You can also accompany it by turning your head.
4. Overcoming back pain
One of the causes of back pain is tension or stiffness in the back muscles. This disorder can occur due to several things, such as poor posture and the habit of rarely exercising.
To relieve back pain symptoms due to stiff back muscles, you can do stretching regularly. In addition, you can also try certain sports, such as yoga, pilates, or swimming.
Stretching and exercise are also useful for strengthening back muscles and preventing back pain from recurring in the future.
5. Relieves stress
When you exercise, including simple exercises like stretching, your body will produce natural stress-relieving hormones, namely endorphins. This is why stretching and regular exercise are good for dealing with stress and anxiety.
Various Ways to Do Stretching Movements
Here are some ways to do stretching movements that you can do in between daily activities:
Stretching on the back
To do stretching movements on your back, you can follow these steps:
- Lie on your back, then bend your knees.
- Place your hands on your calves, then pull your feet toward your chest.
- Pull until your back feels stretched.
- Hold for 8 counts. After that, return to the starting position and repeat this movement 9 times.
In addition, you can also perform the following movements:
- Lie on your stomach, then slowly lift your back and use your palms as support.
- Hold for 8 counts. After that, return to the starting position and repeat 9 times.
Stretching the shoulders and arms
Shoulder and arm stretches can be done with these easy movements:
- Stand with your arms by your side.
- Swing your arms forward, then raise your arms as high as you can.
- Lower, then repeat this movement for 1 minute.
So that you can get the benefits of stretching optimally, spend at least 5-10 minutes every day doing these movements. If during this time you rarely do exercise or stretching, start to get used to doing stretching.
Although there are many benefits of stretching, you still need to be careful when you want to do this movement, especially if you are experiencing an injury or problem with the joints or muscles of the body. Therefore, if you have certain health problems, first consult with your doctor to determine the appropriate stretching steps.
