Neuropathy stretching benefits? Those of you who know me personally know that I harp on this all the time in my Marshfield Direct Primary Care and Neuropathy Practice! Incorporating daily stretching into our routines offers numerous health benefits, both physical and mental. Here are some of the better known ones that often don't get discussed in physicians offices on a regular basis:
1. Improved Flexibility - Regular stretching helps improve the flexibility of muscles and joints. This increased flexibility can enhance your range of motion and make daily activities easier. It's also well known fact this can improve exercise and sports performance sometimes dramatically well until later life.
2. Reduced Muscle Tension and Stiffness: - Stretching can help alleviate muscle tension and reduce stiffness, especially after periods of inactivity or sitting for extended periods.
3. Enhanced Blood Circulation: - Stretching promotes better blood circulation to various parts of the body. Improved circulation can contribute to better nutrient delivery to muscles and organs. It also can help us both warm up and stay warm throughout the course of our day.
4. Better Posture:- Stretching exercises that target the muscles supporting good posture can help in maintaining proper alignment and reducing the risk of musculoskeletal issues related to poor posture. Combined with resistance exercise this is a game changer.
5. Stress Relief:- Engaging in gentle stretching can trigger the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good hormones. This can help alleviate stress and improve your mood. Don't underestimate this! You don't need to go to a yoga class or gym, you can do it anytime or any place at all for free.
6. Improved Activity and Exercise:- This is been well known to Olympic athletes and their trainers for decades, well into later in life. Athletes often incorporate stretching into their routines to enhance performance. It helps to prepare the muscles for activity, reduces the risk of injury, and improves overall athletic performance. This is been well known to Olympic athletes and their trainers for decades, well into later in life.
7. Injury Prevention: - Regular stretching can contribute to injury prevention by maintaining muscle and joint health. It improves flexibility, which can reduce the risk of strains, sprains, and other injuries.
8. Enhanced Range of Motion:- Stretching exercises that focus on various muscle groups contribute to an increased range of motion. This can be particularly beneficial for not only for our daily routines but activities that require a wide range of movement, such as dance or certain sports.
9. Improved Circulation to Muscles:- Stretching helps in the dilation of blood vessels, leading to improved circulation to the muscles. This is so crucial in Neuropathy. This can also aid in muscle recovery after exercise and reduce muscle soreness. There's also some evidence that this includes vascular flexibility to a certain extent especially as we age.
10. Better Coordination and Balance:- Stretching can improve your proprioception, which is your awareness of the position of your body in space. This can contribute to better coordination and balance. This is crucial for all of us as we age and especially important in those with peripheral neuropathy and related disorders.
11. Relief from Back Pain:- Stretching exercises that target the muscles of the lower back and hips can be beneficial in relieving and preventing back pain.
12. Enhanced Relaxation: - Incorporating stretching into a bedtime routine can promote relaxation and improve the quality of sleep. I frequently tell patients this also can significantly change the way you feel when you get out of bed in the morning. This perhaps is one of the biggest reasons for stretching before bed!
It's important to note that stretching should be done in a controlled and gentle manner. For most patients both a very gentle AM and a PM session done late in the day before our body cools down have tremendous benefit. Avoid bouncing or forcing your body into uncomfortable positions, as this can lead to injury. Gentle breathing throughout is also essential. *If you are a private practice member, request a PDF copy of our recommended core daily stretches. ~ We Are Here for You
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