[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/blogs\/the-importance-of-stretching\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/blogs\/the-importance-of-stretching\/","headline":"The Importance of Stretching","name":"The Importance of Stretching","description":"What\u2019s the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning?     Without even thinking about it, you stretch. It is a natural and instinctual behavior we do on a daily basis, but many people don\u2019t loosen up enough. Keep reading to find out what all that stretching is doing […]","datePublished":"2013-01-14","dateModified":"2024-01-09","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/author\/developer\/#Person","name":"Nick Petersen","url":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/author\/developer\/","identifier":2,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8ea7fc410413ee0b715aee4c6b2d912c09623af5f85eaca6f6d7e0a2c223e1df?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8ea7fc410413ee0b715aee4c6b2d912c09623af5f85eaca6f6d7e0a2c223e1df?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Reflex Knee Specialists","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/b1ec2b6df7.nxcli.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/logo.png","url":"http:\/\/b1ec2b6df7.nxcli.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/logo.png","width":169,"height":104}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/11-082504-how_to_use_a_foam_roller-1080x540-1-4.jpg","url":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/11-082504-how_to_use_a_foam_roller-1080x540-1-4.jpg","height":330,"width":586},"url":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/blogs\/the-importance-of-stretching\/","about":["Blogs"],"wordCount":513,"articleBody":"What\u2019s the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning?  Without even thinking about it, you stretch. It is a natural and instinctual behavior we do on a daily basis, but many people don\u2019t loosen up enough. Keep reading to find out what all that stretching is doing for your body, and why you should think about doing a bit more on a regular basis. Our muscles get tight when we don\u2019t move them for extended periods of time. Stretching can help lengthen out your muscles and tendons so you feel better and\u00a0allow for\u00a0easier movement.\u00a0Stretching helps relieve pain, soreness, and stress that come with physical activity.\u00a0It also increases energy by elevating\u00a0blood circulation\u00a0and the supply of\u00a0nutrients to muscles and cartilage. When you stretch the various\u00a0muscle groups\u00a0in the body you profit by getting\u00a0more oxygen in the blood\u00a0which means reduced stress levels. Proper stretching techniques can reduce the amount of stiffness in your muscles which in turn will help you become more relaxed, both body and mind. A relaxed body and mind makes for a happier and calmer day. If your neck muscles are giving you trouble during your day, gently stretch them to release tension, this can even prevent headaches. To avoid injury do not stretch if you\u2019re experiencing any of the following symptoms:Muscle Strains or Ligament SprainsIf joints or muscles are infected, inflamed, or hurtAfter\u00a0a recent fractureWhen sharp pains are felt in the joints or musclesIf the pain in your knees\u00a0is preventing you from stretching or exercising them you are not alone, nearly 50 million Americans feel the same way. However, stretching improves muscle balance around your knee joints which in turn will improve your posture and gait. Knees are the most commonly injured joints in the body. Simply walking up stairs causes the pressure across your knee joints to increase up to four times your body weight. Even daily wear and tear can end up hurting your mobility. If you already experience problems, exercising the muscles surrounding the knee joints will help make your knees stronger. Quadriceps (front of thigh) Hamstrings (back of thigh) Abductor (outside thigh) Adductor (inside thigh) Exercise keeps your joints from stiffening and provides needed support, making movement easier and reducing pain. Visit our\u00a0YouTube\u00a0page to see more videos explaining simple knee strengthening and stretching exercises. If you are currently not involved in a regular exercise regimen and are considering stretching, there are some great basic stretch exercises that you can do to relieve the tension in your body and help lengthen those tense muscle groups. You don\u2019t even need much time to complete these stretches. By simply partaking in some\u00a0simple stretching during the spare moments of your day you will be amazed at how much better and more limber you feel. Like us on\u00a0Facebook, and follow us on Twitter for more health and exercise tips."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blogs","item":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/blogs\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Importance of Stretching","item":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/blogs\/the-importance-of-stretching\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]