We’ve heard it all before that diet and exercise are the key ingredients to leading a healthy lifestyle. More so, when it comes to exercise, the other advice we are all quick to receive is to make sure we stretch properly before working out, to limber up the body and lower the risk of straining our muscles or inviting an injury to occur.
Yet even though we are told to do it, stretching goes largely neglected when it comes to creating a fitness routine. Here at AZ Chiropractic, we believe that stretching can not only increase our patients’ flexibility and mobility, but also serves to relax the body and reduce not only stress, but stressors, as well.
Regardless of your age or fitness level, if you are looking for a proven way to add ease to your body movements, start by warming up your muscles by walking for approximately five minutes, and intermittently stretching out your arms, rolling your neck, and touching your toes before beginning a fitness routine. You can also integrate a stretching routine at the end of a workout, which is when your muscles are warm and more receptive as well.
The benefits of stretching are numerous, including pain reduction/relief, increased body movement, and an overall better range of motion for the body. Not only that, but the mental rewards are great as well, because by stretching those taut muscles and joints, you are releasing endorphins that tell your body and your mind what you are doing is good for you!
Conversely, if you find that when you try to integrate stretching into your routine and there is simply too much tension, or you have limited mobility, this could be a sign that there is a mechanical obstruction in your joints. More often than not, this is something that we can remedy with specific chiropractic treatment here at AZ Chiropractics.
Our team of professionals will take the time to determine if an obstruction is possibly related to untreated scar tissue, or if the muscles have just become weak and shortened over time. No matter what the diagnosis, our long-term goal is the health and well being of our patients, and we work with all of our patients to create a plan to accomplish just that!