The simple answer is that we stretch because it helps to get fluid moving throughout our bodies as well as regulate nerve impulses and muscle tone. Stretching helps encourage healthy, regular blood flow throughout muscle tissue, which ensures adequate supply of oxygen during activity and at rest.
We may stretch after waking up in the morning, when we're feeling tired, and before or after exercise. Some people even prefer stretching-based exercise as a gentler alternative to aerobic exercise. When we sleep or have been sitting or lying down for some time, blood tends to slow down a little bit in the body. Because the muscles aren't actively working when we are sleeping or are at rest, less blood is being pumped throughout them. This muscle tissue still needs fresh oxygen, though! Stretching helps to push a little more blood throughout the muscle tissue, providing oxygen. For this same reason, it's a good idea to stretch and provide your muscles with some extra oxygen before exercise.
After exercise, stretching can ease the transition from demanding activity to a period of rest. Keeping the blood flowing during this time is just as important as warming up because our body repairs and creates new muscle tissue after exercise. Stretching can help prevent or relieve the buildup of metabolic waste like lactic acid after exercise. Stretching also helps improve flexibility by momentarily pushing the limits of our muscles and joints in a gentle way. Many athletes, dancers, and yoga practitioners feel it is very important to stretch regularly to improve their muscles and joints' abilities to perform well under stress.
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