Stretching – Benefits and Proper Techniques

Do you forget about stretching when you exercise? If yes, then you are missing the benefits of stretching and how it dramatically improves your overall health. A physical therapist in Dubai highly recommends stretching not just before exercise, but also during their treatment.

In this post, you will learn what stretching is, its benefits, and how to properly stretch your body.

What is stretching?

Stretching, as its name suggests, is the effort to lengthen muscles to improve flexibility and joint range of motion. Stretching is commonly done before and after exercise. It helps the body to warm up and prepare it for the upcoming physical activity. At the end of an exercise, it assists the body in cooling down and restoring its pre-exercise state.

What are the benefits of stretching?

Here are some of the best benefits of stretching:

  • Improved flexibility and range of motion
  • Increased blood flow to the body
  • Improved posture
  • Enhanced coordination
  • Aids in recovering from an injury
  • Improved athletic and physical performance
  • Pain relief
  • Body conditioning
  • Decreased risk of injuries
  • Decreased level of stress

How to perform proper stretching

While stretching can be very beneficial, it can also be harmful if done incorrectly. For this reason, some athletes use sports physiotherapy Dubai services to ensure they properly stretch and exercise.

Here are some of the important principles of proper stretching you need to remember:

  • Stretch after warmup – most people mistakenly thought that stretching is part of the warmup. While this may be partly correct, you must start your exercise with light walking or jogging. Stretching a cold muscle may hurt yourself. Wait for about five to ten minutes before your actual stretching regimen.
  • Stretch your body equally – make sure that you equally stretch your arms and legs. If one side of your body is more flexible than the other, your risk of injury may increase.
  • Focus on stretching bigger muscles – there is a reason why the muscles in your thighs, hips, calves, and shoulders are bigger. They facilitate a big chunk of your body’s movement. Thus, you need to focus on stretching these big muscles to ensure your body functions optimally.
  • Be gentle – you know best the limit of your body. You can stretch your body to a point where you can feel tension but not pain. When you feel pain, it means that you are stretching your body too far. If you suddenly stretch your body beyond its limit, you might end up being injured. Moreover, concentrate on performing smooth and gradual stretching exercises rather than forceful and sudden movements.
  • Be consistent – stretching is a great way to keep your body in its top shape. It is something that you can do even if you don’t intend to exercise. Stretching allows you to increase your joint’s range of motion and flexibility. Regular stretching will help maintain your newly achieved level of movement.

Getting professional assistance

Now that you have a better understanding of what stretching is, it is time for you to get professional assistance. If you want to use stretching to improve your body’s functionality and restore its good condition, then you would surely benefit from visiting Scandinavian Physiotherapy Center, a leading sports injury clinic in Dubai.

They have some of the best physiotherapists who don’t only know stretching exercise, but also other physical therapy services. They have the right knowledge and skills to keep your body healthy through different therapeutic techniques. Give them a call today!



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