Stretching has many benefits for your body and is an important practice to add to your daily routine. Not only can stretching increase your flexibility, it can improve posture, reduce stress and ease body aches.

Here are some of the benefits of stretching from the home doctor experts at House Call Doctor.

Increases flexibility and range of motion

Regular stretching can help increase your flexibility and range of motion. Being able to move a joint through its full range of motion will give you freedom of movement, making everyday activities easier, and it can also slow the degeneration of your joints that can come with aging.

Improves posture

Poor posture is a common problem that can be corrected through daily stretching. Stretching your lower back, shoulders and chest helps keep your back in better alignment and improves your overall posture, helping to ease tightness and pain.

Increase blood flow to muscles

Regular stretching can improve your circulation through increasing the blood flow to your muscles. This can help shorten your recovery time and reduce muscle soreness.

Stress relief

Your muscles tend to tighten up in response to physical and emotional stress. Focus your stretching on the areas of your body where you tend to hold your stress, such as your shoulders, neck and upper back.

Calm your mind

Regular stretching can help calm your mind and give you a mental break. It acts as a form of mindfulness and meditation.

Decreases back pain

Stretching can improve your flexibility in your hamstrings, hip flexors and the muscles attached to the pelvis which relieves stress on your lower back.

Improves your performance

Stretching before and after physical activities can help prepare your muscles and prevent injuries. It may also help improve your overall physical performance.