Harvard Medical School experts have emphasised the importance of an often overlooked aspect of daily physical activity – stretching. They claim that this simple exercise can significantly enhance wellbeing in a variety of ways.
The specialists highlighted that stretching is “an underrated but important part of daily physical activity”. It not only improves flexibility, but also increases joint motion range, enhances circulation, reduces muscle stiffness and tension, boosts physical performance, prevents injuries, improves posture, and relieves stress.
The experts elaborated: “These benefits make stretching an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Knowing stretching basics such as how often should you stretch; how long should you hold a stretch; and how many times you should do each stretch will ensure you are getting the most out of your routine and reaping the full benefits of flexibility, mobility, and injury prevention.”
They further revealed that a panel of experts assembled by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) reviewed numerous studies on the topic. After examining the evidence, they concurred that healthy adults should perform flexibility exercises (stretches, yoga, or tai chi) for all major muscle-tendon groups – neck, shoulders, chest, trunk, lower back, hips, legs and ankles – at least two to three times a week.
Harvard health experts have concluded that to achieve the best results, each exercise should be performed for a total of 60 seconds. This might entail holding a stretch for 15 seconds and repeating it four times.
They affirmed: “A regular stretching routine is a simple yet powerful addition to your daily self-care.”
Further information is available in ‘Stretching’, a Special Health Report by Harvard Medical School.
