Have you ever given much though to stretching? Stretching is a basic part of life for much of society. We often do it upon awaking from a night’s sleep without thinking. And we intuitively get up to flex our muscles after staying in same position for a long amount of time. But why do we stretch? And what does it do for us?
According to Luis Villazon, in response to the question, “why do we stretch when we wake up?” by Solang Uk, from Switzerland:
“When you sleep, your muscles lose tone and fluid tends to pool along your back. Stretching helps to massage fluid gently back into the normal position. Also, your muscles protect themselves from over-extension by inhibiting the nerve impulses as they approach their limit.”
Here are some other reasons and benefits that stretching can give you.
It Feels Good
Let’s admit it, stretching feels good. Why it feels good is another story. The actual act of stretching is pleasurable.
It Helps Keep Muscles Flexible
Stretching is good for the flexibility of your muscles. According to ACE Fitness, “Stretching helps improve your range of motion, which may also slow the degeneration of your joints.”
It Reduces Stress
Did you know that your muscles hold tension? They do. And muscles that are well-stretched hold less tension that muscles that aren’t well-stretched. So stretching your muscles is a good way to reduce stress.
It Helps you Stay Alert
Stretching after a long period of not moving, like when you wake up (which is known as Pandiculation) gets your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) working, which “revs up all those background processes that keep you awake and alert throughout the day” and “helps improve blood flow and reduce stress.”
How about getting up and taking a stretch?
Do you consciously stretch throughout the day?
Please share in the comments below.