In the News - May 2009
Stretching does a body good
MURFREESBORO, Ark. - Anyone can stretch. We do it everyday, and you don't
have to be young, flexible or athletic. Whether you sit at home all day, drive a
truck, do housework or deliver mail on foot, you can do some simple stretches,
says Robbie McKinnon, Pike County extension agent with the University of
Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Now, here's the good news - stretching is good for you.
"Stretching at work can relieve tension and stress," she says. Stretching is
especially helpful if you have been sitting or standing for a long time or when
you feel stiff. You can stretch during the day while watching television,
listening to music or just sitting and talking.
Stretching should be a part of any exercise program. It relaxes muscles and
prepares the body for more strenuous exercise, and it's an exercise in itself,
according to McKinnon.
Stretching elongates a specific skeletal muscle or muscle group to its
fullest length to improve the muscle's elasticity and restore comfortable muscle
tone, she explains. It increases flexibility, which can help you with everyday
activities.
"The right way to stretch is by relaxing and holding the stretch with your
attention on the muscles being stretched," she says. "You should feel a stretch
but not pain. The wrong way is to bounce up and down or to stretch to the point
of pain."
Stretching the wrong way can be harmful.
If you have a chronic condition or an injury, you may need to change your
stretching style. For example, don't lift your arm over your head if you have
had should surgery recently, she says.
For each stretch you do, it's beneficial to repeat it a few more times and
hold it for 20 or 30 seconds.
"Stretching improves range of motion. Good range of motion in your joints
keeps you in better balance, which will help you stay mobile and less likely to
fall," says McKinnon.
Stretching also improves circulation. It increases blood flow to your muscles
and speeds recovery after muscle injuries.
For more information on health and nutrition, contact your county extension
agent or visit www.uaex.edu. The Cooperative Extension
Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.
May 29, 2009
Media Contact: Elizabeth Fortune
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2120
efortune@uaex.edu
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