You hear it all the time, especially from your Peak coaches, stretching - and ultimately, your flexibility - is vital to your health and muscular balance.
3 Benefits of Stretching
Increasing flexibility to prevent injury
Improving strength
Freedom of movement
#1 Increasing flexibility to prevent injury
By increasing flexibility we are reducing the risk of muscle imbalances.
When muscle imbalances exist, the body will take the path of least resistance when it comes to performing various movement patterns. This leads to poor posture, which leads to improper movement and form, which increases your risk of injury.
#2 Reducing Inflammation
Flexibility can improve your strength and performance in physical activities. The goal of flexibility is to have control of your muscles in a full range of motion. So, improving your flexibility is also improving your strength! Furthermore, if your muscles are sore or stiff you may not be able to engage in explosive movements or perform as well during your training.
#3 Freedom of Movement
Flexibility allows for freedom of movement to perform everyday activities such as bending over to tie your shoes, lifting groceries, and vacuuming the floor. These are things that can become more difficult as we age, so we want to regularly engage in a stretching routine, so these everyday activities don’t become difficult.
