Many people want to start a stretching routine, but are having trouble deciding among the various options available. Choosing the best stretching techniques for your needs will depend on a number of different factors and no one exercise routine is perfect for all people. By considering what you would like the routine to accomplish and being honest about your physical limitations and your health, you can find the exercise routine that will work best for you.
People With Limited Mobility
People that are looking to increase their limited mobility will benefit greatly from a slow paced, low intensity stretching exercise routine. These routines use long, slow movements to gently work each muscle group in the body, gradually increasing the strength and flexibility of each muscle group. This type of stretching exercise routine has the lowest risk of injury because of the slow, deliberate movements and many therapists use these types of stretches to rehabilitate the body after an injury.
Seniors that have lost some of their mobility due to age could benefit greatly from low impact stretching routines because it could restore some of their mobility, making it easier for them to move around without assistance. A daily stretching exercise routine can make the senior feel healthier because it increased the flow of blood in the body and increases the amount of oxygen being delivered to the muscles and the brain. A regular exercise routine may also alleviate the symptoms of many health issues that are associated with aging, such as shortness of breath, arthritis, and muscle stiffness.
People That Participate In Sports
People that regularly participate in sports or other high intensity activities can benefit from a stretching exercise routine that is designed to prepare the body for the other activities that the person will be participating in. These exercise routines are designed to be completed in 15 minutes to a half an hour and are performed immediately before participating in the sport of your choice. Specific sports figures have created stretching DVDs that can be used to target the muscles that will be used during the sport.
The movements that characterize this type of stretching routine are designed to work several areas of the body at once. This makes the body more flexible in a short period of time to reduce the amount of injuries that can occur during the sport. Performing these exercises can also reduce the risk of waking up the next morning in pain because the person has strained muscles that they are not used to using.
