What is stretching?
A stretch is an exercise that lengthens and elongates a target muscle area. Stretching improves your flexibility, mobility and elasticity. Stretching exercises are commonly included in recovery, rehab and training programs.
What is stretching?
A stretch is an exercise that lengthens and elongates a target muscle area. Stretching improves your flexibility, mobility and elasticity. Stretching exercises are commonly included in recovery, rehab and training programs.
Stretching is also an important part of your routine exercise program. Everyone should aim for at least two or three days of stretching a week, targeting all of the major muscle groups: neck, shoulders, chest, trunk, lower back, hips, legs and ankles.
What are relaxation exercises?
What are relaxation exercises?
Relaxation exercises help you release tension in your body. When a certain muscle or group of muscles is too tight or contracted, relaxing the muscle area helps provide relief. Relaxation techniques help with stress of the mind as much as stress in the body. Relaxation exercises help you release tension in your body. When a certain muscle or group of muscles is too tight or contracted, relaxing the muscle area helps provide relief. Relaxation techniques help with stress of the mind as much as stress in the body. Relaxation exercises help you release tension in your body. When a certain muscle or group of muscles is too tight or contracted, relaxing the muscle area helps provide relief. Relaxation techniques help with stress of the mind as much as stress in the body. Diaphragmatic breathing, guided imagery and progressive muscle relaxation are examples of exercises commonly used in physical therapy and in everyday life.
Why do I need stretching or relaxation exercises?
Stretching and relaxation are beneficial to bodies of all types, whether you’re recovering from a major injury, training for a marathon or loosening up after a long day at your desk. Stretching is both a treatment and method of prevention for strained muscles or joints, mobility issues and pain.
Relaxation techniques can help with stress, headaches, anxiety, lower back pain, arthritis or pain after surgery. Chronic stress presents both psychological and physiological effects, increasing your heart rate, sweating, breathing, pain and muscle tension. Relaxation exercises can bring those back down and help you manage stress on a day-to-day basis.
Different relaxation techniques can be used alone or in combination with stretching exercises. Yoga and tai chi are types of exercise that combine stretching movements with relaxation techniques to improve your physical and mental health.
Different relaxation techniques can be used alone or in combination with stretching exercises. Yoga and tai chi are types of exercise that combine stretching movements with relaxation techniques to improve your physical and mental health.
What should I expect from a relaxation and stretching program?
Your physical therapist will likely guide you through stretching or relaxation exercises at the start of every appointment. This helps loosen up your joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. It’s important to get warmed up before moving on to strengthening exercises and other types of treatment.
For some injuries and conditions, your entire treatment plan may consist of stretching and relaxation exercises in order to manage pain, improve flexibility or restore range of motion.
What type of results do stretching and relaxation exercises provide?
Stretching and relaxation exercises offer many benefits. When you contract, relax and stretch specific muscle areas, you become more aware of your body. This helps you better understand where you hold stress and where you’re weak, so you can make adjustments and avoid injury.
With stretching specifically you can improve:
- Flexibility
- Range of motion
- Muscle tension
- Physical performance
- Blood flow to the muscles
- Ability to complete daily activities
Relaxation exercises also offer a variety of health benefits. You can improve digestion, blood flow, focus, mood, sleep quality and confidence. They help to reduce stress hormones, fatigue, anger, frustration and anxiety as well as lower your heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure.
After completing a stretching and relaxation program with your physical therapist — or incorporating a regular routine into your life — your body and mind will feel better.