You’ve heard that you should exercise at every age. There’s no denying that exercise comes with many benefits, and you should definitely look for ways to raise your heart rate, but you should also consider adding stretching to your daily routine.

One of the great things about stretching is that anybody can do it, regardless of your fitness level. It comes with plenty of benefits too that include:

• Help recovering from an injury
• Easing pain
• Maintaining range of motion
• Slowing the aging process
• Decreases your chance of injury

It Can Help You Recover From an Injury

Injuries are a part of life. Whether you’re dealing with injuries due to a car accident or you simply slipped and fell at home, it’s easy to pull a muscle, sprain an ankle, or pinch a nerve. Stretching can help.

Stretching can help you recover more quickly from an injury, but there are a few things you have to do to make sure you do the right exercises. That way, you don’t accidentally make your injury worse. They include:

• Knowing exactly what kind of injury you have.
• Waiting until a torn or pulled muscle has healed before stretching.
• Incorporating different types of stretches into a daily routine.

It’s a good idea to talk to a doctor if you want to do some stretching after an injury. They can provide you with exercises, and they may be able to refer you to a physical therapist.

It Can Ease Pain

Many people live with at least a little pain. Back pain is especially common, as is neck and wrist pain since so many of us spend our days typing away at a computer. It’s easy for your muscles to stiffen up, which can make the pain worse. Regular stretching can loosen the muscles and ease the pain without the need to take pain killers.

The great thing about stretching is that it can be done just about anywhere. It’s easy to do a few stretches in the morning, they can be done at your desk when you take breaks, and static stretches can even be done on the bus when you’re on your way home.

It Can Help You Maintain Your Range of Motion

It’s normal for flexibility to decrease over time. The trouble is, being stiff and inflexible can make life more difficult. It can become nearly impossible to open upper cabinets in the kitchen and playing on the floor with the kids is a bad idea because getting up off the floor is difficult.

Stretching can help because it enables you to maintain your range of motion. The more you stretch, the more flexible you become, and the more flexible you are, the more you’ll be able to do all of the things you’re used to doing as you get older.

It Can Slow the Aging Process

Your range of motion is an important consideration as you age. Many seniors struggle at home because they simply can’t bend like they used to, but stretching affects the aging process in more profound ways.

Exercise can make you look younger than your age, but stretching can help too. With the right exercise programs, you can engage all of the muscles in your body. When those muscles are activated, used, and toned, it positively affects your ability to maintain your figure. Regardless of whether or not you gain weight, stretching can help you keep your curves.

It Can Decrease Your Chances of Injuries

If you work out regularly, you understand the importance of stretching. By taking some time before your workout to stretch the muscles you’re going to use, you can greatly decrease the chances of experiencing an injury.

Regular stretching can help you prevent injuries in everyday life too, especially if you’re entering your golden years. It enables you to strengthen muscles, which can help you improve your balance and coordination. It encourages blood flow and muscle control, and regular stretching can improve posture.

When you stretch regularly, you can reduce your chances of slipping and falling at home, but it can also reduce your chances of dropping heavy objects or pulling a muscle when you stretch to reach something in a hard-to-reach place.

Adding exercise to your daily routine is often difficult because it means getting a gym membership or braving the weather. Stretching doesn’t come with the same challenges! Take a few moments throughout your day to stretch as many muscles as you can and you will definitely see benefits over time.