You may think of stretching as something performed only by runners or gymnasts. But we all need to stretch to protect our mobility and independence.
With a body full of muscles, the idea of daily stretching may seem overwhelming.
Did you know you don't have to stretch every muscle you have? The areas critical for mobility are in your lower extremities: your calves, your hamstrings, your hip flexors in the pelvis and quadriceps in the front of the thigh." Stretching your shoulders, neck, and lower back is also beneficial.
Aim for a program of daily stretches or at least three or four times per week as stretching once today won't magically give you perfect flexibility. You'll need to do it over time and remain committed to the process. It may have taken you many months to get tight muscles. It takes weeks to months to get flexible, and you'll have to continue working on it to maintain it, as regular stretching keeps muscles long, lean, and flexible, and this means that exertion won't put too much force on the muscle itself.
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