Stretching

Despite the fact that stretching won't strengthen your heart or make your stomach flat, it can help in attaining those goals more efficiently. Aerobic exercises and strength training need muscles that are in balance and work smoothly. This is where the relevance of stretching comes in -- as it complements the chosen workout activity.

Exercise, and other factors, can cause your muscles to shrink. By frequently stretching the muscles, you work against that muscle shrinking effect. Stretching has the benefits of:

·         Promoting flexibility--- allowing you to move your muscles and joints through their full range of motion. 

·         Helping to decrease injury to your muscles, ligaments and tendons. Although there are some disputes as to whether stretching before exercising is favored to stretching after exercise, the general benefits of flexibility are not disputed.

·         Assisting to keep the body agile by easing muscle rigidity and tightness. A tight muscle is not able to function like it should. 

Once you familiarize yourself with stretching you'll find that it's an important part of your overall wellness.

Health encyclopedia (n.d) University of Rochester Medical center, http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2206
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