Of course, most people know that regular exercise is a vital component of staying healthy and combating many physical issues throughout one's lifetime.  Younger people typically are more body conscious and spend more time stretching and exercising.  Over time though, as people get busy with their lives they have less and less time for exercise and they may skip stretching altogether, only allotting time for calorie-burning exercise, if at all.

Stretching is actually a precursor to more strenuous exercise.  It is helpful in so many ways, it is unfortunate that some people don't make time for it.  Stretching increases blood flow throughout the body.  The increased blood flow helps muscles warm up and delivers essential oxygen and nutrients to muscles and other structures.  Stretching also increases range of motion.  With increased range of motion, the entire muscle has an opportunity to develop rather than just part of the muscle.  Stretching reduces the chance of a pulled muscle or tendon because during stretching, muscles gradually elongate rather than being asked to perform right away as with strenuous exercise.

With all the emphasis on stretching and what it can do for your muscles, you might be wondering what stretching has to do chiropractic care.  Muscles throughout the body play a huge role in supporting the spine and adjacent skeletal structures.  When an individual's muscles are strong, they are of tremendous value to keep elements of the spine in their proper place. By assisting your muscles with regular stretching, your spine is less likely to become misaligned.  Stretching, regular exercise and chiropractic care all go hand in hand to keep your body healthy and able to meet its many demands.

Please contact us for more information on how to incorporate a good stretching program in your daily routine.