Episode 271: Skip Stretching at Your Own Risk...Plus LIVE QA with Stew Smith

Have you been told that static stretching is bad, and it does not doesn't prevent injuries? See - https://www.stewsmithfitness.com/blogs/news/dont-skip-moblity-day

Most of us have been coached to avoid stretching altogether, don’t stretch before a workout, or use dynamic stretches instead. For me personally, stretching more has been life-changing, with increased joint mobility, reduced pain, and even injury prevention. Despite what you may have been told, a well-balanced mix of cardio warmups, dynamic stretching, and static stretching can make a real difference in your physical health. Finding the right warmup routine for your body and your specific physical activities is a process that will take some trial and error, but the benefits are well worth the effort.

The Benefits of Daily Stretching
Daily stretching can be spread throughout the day with short walks mixed with any stretch for just minutes a day. But it is recommended to add a stretching session after exercise or stressful days or as a cooldown to cardio activity. 

Helps Decompress – Both physically and mentally, stretching allows you to relax, brings stress levels down, and puts you in a better mindset. Stress in the body makes muscles tight and stiff, leading to tension headaches and lower back pains. Stretching helps to relieve aches from common soreness and tension. Stretching increases blood flow throughout the body and the brain. Increasing feel-good hormones like serotonin stretching reduces stress, anxiety, and general fatigue—stretch/stress study. See https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23764394/

Increased Flexibility and Joint Range of Motion – This major benefit also allows you to be more balanced with your posture and will help you prevent injuries. From avoiding common daily aches and pains to being more durable during workouts and athletic activity, stretching reduces pain and injury through soft tissue flexibility and joint mobility. 

Helps with Treading Water and Swimming – For many non-swimming athletes, swimming and treading are more difficult, mainly due to the lack of shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle mobility and tight leg, back, and shoulder muscles.  See related article and recent coaching tips. see article - https://www.stewsmithfitness.com/blogs/news/treading-might-be-a-mobility-issue-try-these-stretches-movements

Cooling Down After Workout – Most people who stretch will stretch on the back end of a workout, but often, this section is skipped due to busy lives and lack of time. But stretching helps us move better. When you bend over to pick up a heavy box or even a pen on the floor, you can throw your back out just by bending over at the hips if your back, hips, and legs are tight (lacking flexibility and mobility). 

Sitting is the New Smoking – Getting up every 30-40 minutes for a quick walk and stretching session of the legs, hips, and shoulders can reduce stress and back pain and help you with your productivity and mood. Sitting too much is one of the biggest reasons why we need to pursue a daily stretching habit actively. 

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