Don't Skip The Stretch

You’ve finished your workout, and it’s very tempting to skip your stretch, take a shower, and call it a day. It’s not a big deal, right? Wrong!

Stretching is, in fact, a very big deal. It is equally as important for our bodies as exercise. As you know, stretching keeps your muscles flexible, and flexibility is essential for range of motion. But that’s actually only one piece of the puzzle. 

Stretching is necessary to prevent injuries. Not stretching can cause pain in your joints, as well as increase your risk of muscle strain or damage. Unstretched muscles are short and tight, so as you can imagine, they do not have the same performance or resilience as stretched muscles, which are longer and more elastic. 

You should be stretching daily, whether you exercise or not. It doesn’t have to be a long, elaborate affair. Warm up your muscles a bit first before you begin, as stretching cold muscles can result in muscle damage. Jumping jacks are an old classic, but if you are looking for a low impact alternative, you could do standing jacks where you step to the side alternating legs instead of jumping, and bringing your arms overhead as you would in a jumping jack. Squats are also great, raising your arms overhead to get your upper body warmed up as well. You’ll need about 5-10 minutes to warm up.

Pick a few stretches for your neck, back, and lower body. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Standing hamstring stretch

• Chest opener

• Cat cow

• Seated twist

• Seated figure 4

• Downward dog 

Hold each for 30 seconds before moving onto the next. Just 10 minutes a day of stretching can make a noticeable difference in your range of motion, posture, and joint health.

We can even help you come up with your own tailored stretching routine based on your needs and goals. Give us a call at 347.560.6920 to set up a consultation with one of our physical therapists in Brooklyn or Manhattan. We’re also offering virtual sessions if that’s more your speed.