Exercising to Increase Your Flexibility

Flexibility is the ability to extend or stretch without breaking muscle fibers. The term flexibility is to describe a normal range of motion in a muscle or joint. By increasing your flexibility, it can prevent injury and also improve performance. A gradual loss of flexibility can lead to permanent changes in posture and normal muscle function. There are countless benefits in maintaining and improving your body's flexibility.

Stretching works to decrease resistance and muscle tissue. The less resistance in those muscles means that less energy is required to move through a greater range of motion. A few stretches that can be incorporated into the daily living routine to maintain and improve flexibility:

• Seated Trunk Twist - by sitting on the floor and engaging your abdominals, extend your legs together in front of you. Lifting your rib cage, gently twist to both the left and right. Does this slowly and repeat five to eight times and holding during the repetitions. Discontinue this if you do notice sharp pain.
• Hip Flexor/Quad Stretch - this can be done by kneeling on the floor and bringing your right knee forward with the foot flat on the floor directly underneath you. Your left knee stays on the floor. Put the hands on the right knee, press the hips forward and lean into the stretch. Hold this for approximately 30 seconds. Try this three to four times on each leg. This stretch will affect the hip flexors, hamstrings, and quads.
• Triceps Stretch - Have your feet hip width apart and raise your arms over your head. Bend your left elbow so your hand is in the middle of your back reach over with your right hand and grasp the left elbow. Gently pull to the right until you feel the stretch in your triceps. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds and then you can switch arms.

If you integrate these stretches into a daily routine you will be on a path of better flexibility with the ultimate goal of reducing injuries.

Contact your local Dululth Chiropractor Today!

If you are someone who is suffering from lack of flexibility and restricted range of motion type symptoms please contact our office today. No matter where you live in the Duluth area, we can help. Our clinic has been serving Kenwood, Hermantown, Duluth Heights, Kenwood Village, College of Scholastica, Woodland, Congdon, Lakeside, Lester Park & surrounding communities for years, and we would love to have you as the latest member of our little family. Please contact us today at 218-724-6008 to learn more