A healthy and fit body is a product of consistency, discipline, and hard work. While the journey to overall health and wellness is a series of ups and downs, it is possible. When we look for ways to be fit and healthy, we would find scores of articles suggesting a healthy and balanced meal, enough sleep, adequate water intake, and a mix of cardio and strength training. While it is not always talked about, the importance of stretch exercises has been established for a long time now.
The more common use for stretch is when it is incorporated in workouts. Stretches are performed either prior the workout, in the middle of the workout, or post-workout. While some articles raise some concerns about pre-workout exercises, it is important to fire up the body especially the muscles and nervous system. However, apart from the more popular benefit of stretching that is to prevent injury, stretching exercises improves our flexibility or range of motion and at the same time relaxes the muscles while increasing the blood flow. These attributes or benefits characterize the capability of stretches to relieve certain types of body pain.
Why stretch exercise is one of the best ways to relieve pain?
There are numerous ways to relieve body pain in the absence of medical intervention. They could vary from consumption or application of over-the-counter painkillers to ice or heat compress. Whether it is body pain after a workout or from some strenuous activities, people tend to stay in bed or minimize movements. This is, however, a misconception when it comes to dealing with body pain. Giving your body the proper and much needed stretch is important in reducing soreness or pain.
Stretching is found to increase blood flow to the muscles. The increased blood flow or improvement in the circulation of blood likewise promotes cell growth and organ function. As the blood flow increases, there is better nutrient supply to the muscles, which alleviates pain and eventually allowing your body to fully recover.
Stretch Exercises in Your Home
Upper Back Stretch
With the enormous number of activities that involve our backs, back discomfort or pain cannot be prevented. There are many available reliefs out there, however, more people prefer the more natural way of alleviating upper back pain and that is by stretch exercises. Here are the five best upper back stretches you can perform anytime in the comfort of your home.
Lower Back Stretch
The lower back is one of the most common points exposed to tension or pain considering all the bending, turning, and twisting we do every single day. Take care of your lower back and as soon as you feel a discomfort in your back, do not forget to perform the following stretches. Use Lower back stretch machine is one way that can relieve your back pain.
Leg and Hamstring Stretch
When it comes to making the most out of our day, it is important that our body is in its full potential. So when a discomfort or pain in the leg and hamstring comes in the way, it could be really frustrating. So we compiled some of the top stretching exercises you can conveniently do in the comfort of your home.
Foot Stretch
After a whole day or night on your feet, you feel like your feet are giving up on you. Feet pain is common in the morning, especially because the tissue and joints tend to be tight during sleep by reason of lack of movement. Prevent or ease the discomfort or pain in the heel or feet so you wake up tomorrow pain-free and ready to take on the world. Give your feet some time to stretch by performing any foot stretch exercise.
Neck and Shoulder Stretch
The neck and shoulder are among the common points that usually bring some discomfort or pain. It could be a result of long hours in your desk or a wrong sleeping position. Pain in the neck and shoulders may disrupt your daily activities affecting one’s productivity. Here are some stretches you can do to give your neck and shoulder a good stretch.
Finger, Hand, and Wrist Stretches
When we talk about stretching, we often forget about the tension, stress, or pain that the finger, hand, and wrist experience. So we listed out some stretch exercises you can perform in the comfort of your homes alleviate tension or discomfort in your fingers, hands, and wrist, because after all, we want to be totally healthy and well.
