Stretching to ease pain!

For most of us, experiencing pain in the spine is bound to happen at some point in our lives. An amazing 80 out of 100 people will be affected!

As we age, the reality is that experiencing back pain increases due to age related conditions such as:

• Osteoporosis
• Osteoarthritis
• Loss of hydration
• Loss of muscle mass

Luckily, there are things you can do to help rid yourself of that annoying pain and reduce the risk of it returning. Of course having regular Chiropractic treatment is a priority, but regular stretching of the muscles, ligaments and tendons that support the spine is also an important element to alleviate pain.

There are many benefits to regular stretching, it can help increase your overall flexibility, improve posture, reduce stress and aches and pains and much more.

How does stretching help?

Each joint in the body is designed to move through a specific range of motion.  Almost all joints allow for movement in more than one plane of motion – side to side, rotation, and forwards and backwards.

When the muscles and other soft tissue structures tighten due to inactivity or injury, the joint range of motion is impaired and can result in stiffness and pain.

5 Benefits of stretching

1. Increases your range of motion and flexibility.

Being able to move a joint through its full range of motion gives more freedom of movement.  When you stretch you will slowly improve your range of motion which in turn takes the strain off the muscles and soft tissues, putting less strain on your spine. Regular stretching also increases flexibility which will help you to carry out everyday activities with ease!

2. Improves posture.

Muscle imbalances are common and can lead to poor posture. Muscles are elastic and they can stretch out and contract as needed to keep you in the right position.  With bad posture it is normal for muscles to get tight and stay in a restricted range of movement.  Stretching helps reduce tension in the muscles, allowing them to lengthen, making it easier to retain the boy’s natural posture easily.

3. Helps to prevent and heal back pain.

Regular stretching can help prevent future back pain by strengthening the muscles and reducing the risk of muscle strain. As we have mentioned earlier, tight muscles can lead to a decrease in range of motion.  When this occurs, you increase the likelihood of straining muscles in your back.  Stretching can also help speed recovery of an existing back injury.

4. Increases blood supply.

Good blood flow is paramount in helping muscles recover. If the muscles are constantly being restricted because they are stiff, this will impact on the amount of blood flow the muscles receive resulting in a longer healing time.  Performing stretches on a regular basis improves circulation and increases the blood flow to the muscles which helps reduce muscle soreness.

5. Reduces stress.

When you are stressed, there is a good chance the muscles are tense. This is because muscles tend to tighten up in response to physical and emotional stress.  The more you can relax and de-stress the easier it will be to prevent back pain.  Stretching for a few minutes each day can help you unwind and improve your stress response.

When not to stretch

• If you have a chronic or nagging injury – talk to your Chiropractor to design a stretching programme that suits your needs.
• If you have an acute or existing injury – only perform stretches recommended by your Chiropractor.
• If you have any physical limitations that prevent you from performing a particular stretch – talk to your Chiropractor for alternative exercises that can help increase overall flexibility.

If you would like some further information or to speak to a member of our team please call us on: Hitchin 01462 420077 or Luton 01582 579687, alternatively e-mail us at: hitchin@healesclinics.com or luton@healesclinics.com