Sunday, October 19, 2008

How Stretching Benefits the Body

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.

If they knew the benefits they could get from regular stretching, more people might be interested in taking up this activity. 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. This is because the muscles of the body become used to maneuvering in all different directions. They also become flexible enough to withstand most types of sudden movement, which can cause harm to the muscles and tendons. Frequent stretching also increases your body strength. 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.

Your body responds to the exercise it gets from stretching by increasing its flow of blood. A variety of illnesses and disease can benefit from this. Your body eliminates wastes more rapidly due to improved blood flow. In addition, it improves the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to your major organs, such as the brain. Also, blood flow throughout the body to the muscles becomes faster. The health and strength of the muscles are improved dramatically.

Stretching is among the few exercises that benefits the whole body. Plus, the frequency or length of the exercises doesn't really matter. By performing stretching exercises more often, you will see better results more quickly. However, you can become healthier and more mobile even with just a moderate stretching program.

The advantages to your body of performing this low impact form of exercise are reason enough for anyone to start up a daily stretching routine. - 15266

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