Flexibile
Fitness Love your Muscles
Our muscles
are repeatedly shortened when used, more when exercising.
Muscles need
to be slowly and regularly stretched to counteract
the repeated shortening.
Stretching
results in flexibility: the ability to move joints
and muscles through their full range of motion.
As you become more flexible, you will find it easier
to reach things on high shelves, to look under a
bed, or perhaps to tie your shoes. You will also
have a better sense of balance.
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Flexibility
Benefits
Increases in:
Range
of motion
Balance and stability
Overall mobility
Activities of daily living
Body awareness
Blood circulation
Relaxation
Decreases in:
Risk
of muscular injury
Anxiety
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Doing stretches
for 10 to 12 minutes a day is generally recommended.
When getting
started with flexibility and stretching, begin slowly
and increase your efforts gradually. You can measure
your progress with flexibility by noticing how much
further you can do each stretch. Can you go further
with each stretch than you could when you started?
If so, your flexibility is improving.
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