When you have pain and stiffness that limits your ability to enjoy your daily life, it’s time to start including stretching in your routine. Stretching helps the muscles, ligaments and tendons become more flexible and strong. This helps to improve your range of motion and reduce pressure off your joints. 

Stretching is an important part of most physical therapy treatments, but if it’s safe for you to do so, you can always stretch on your own in your free time as well. Take a look below at five reasons you should start stretching today.

1. Stretching improves your range of motion

Stiff muscles and soft tissue limit how far you can bend or flex your joints. This can affect your ability to accomplish simple tasks like changing clothes or taking a shower. Stretching every day can help improve your flexibility so that simple tasks remain simple.

2. Stretching helps reduce pain

It’s easy to forget just how interconnected different parts of our bodies are. Those of us who suffer from joint pain might think the pain is isolated to the joints themselves. However, stiff and weak muscles increase pressure on your joints, which is often the source of joint pain for many people.

Stretching can help improve strength and flexibility to reduce pressure off your joints. This helps to reduce your pain so you can focus on enjoying your life.

3. Stretching helps with athletic performance

Athletes need every advantage they can get to push themselves harder to outshine the competition. Stretching before every training session and competition helps limber up your muscles for physical activity, so you can push yourself harder. Stretching after training or competition also helps the muscles reenter a more relaxed state without straining themselves, so you can stay fit enough to compete another day.

4. Stretching helps prevent injuries

Stretching before physical activity not only helps to improve the performance of your muscles, but it also helps to reduce your chances of injury. Stiff and cool muscles are more prone to overstretching and tearing during physical activity. Stretching helps prepare the muscles for activity so they are less prone to injury.

5. Stretching helps improve circulation

Tight muscles can restrict how much oxygen gets delivered throughout your body. Stretching helps them become more flexible and better able to absorb oxygen and nutrients. 

Stretching also helps increase your blood flow to your joints and throughout your body. Good circulation is key to your overall health, from brain functions to healthy skin.

Let our physical therapists at Franklin help you manage pain and prevent injuries

Stretching on your own is just the surface of maintaining your physical health. At Franklin Rehabilitation, our team can work closely with you to identify conditions or injuries that may be causing you pain, stiffness and other issues. We can help you address these issues by guiding you through a personalized treatment routine that will likely include stretching as well as:

• Therapeutic exercise
• Hands-on therapy
• Posture guidance
• Patient education and more

Are you ready to learn more about treating your aches and pains with physical therapy? You can begin physical therapy without getting a doctor’s referral.  Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.