Stretching helps joints stay flexible, avoids injury and improves blood circulation. Skipping this exercise will easily lead to muscle strain, increasing the risk of injury.
According to Doctor 1 Le Thien Kim Huu, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital – Campus 3, many people who exercise physically still do not understand the importance of muscle relaxation. According to the doctor, this step is simple but should not be skipped.
Avoid injury, improve blood circulation
Stretching helps joints increase flexibility, improve flexibility of movement, and move more comfortably without feeling muscle pain before and after exercise. This reduces the risk of overstretching the muscles and helps avoid injury.
In addition, high levels of stress can cause muscles to tighten and place unnecessary pressure on the body. When stretching properly, the muscle bundles will relax and feel more comfortable.
Proper stretching can also effectively improve blood circulation. Recovery time is shortened by increasing blood flow to the muscles, preventing muscle soreness and stiffness during exercise.
Practitioners can stretch their calf muscles with a towel. Image: Verywell Fit
Ignoring muscle relaxation can easily lead to neck-shoulder-arm syndrome
In paravertebral soft tissue diseases, neck-shoulder-arm syndrome originates from neck muscle tension. At that time, the stiff neck muscles compress the passing cervical nerves, causing neck pain and radiating to the shoulders or arms, unrelated to cervical radiculopathy. This is the diagnosis that every patient encounters when neck pain is caused by incorrect exercises or not doing stretching exercises.
Symptoms of neck strain appear suddenly or gradually, including muscle tension, muscle spasms, increased muscle stiffness, difficulty turning the head in certain directions, and increased pain in certain locations specifically.
The common cause (accounting for 70-80%) of neck-shoulder-brachial syndrome is due to degeneration of the cervical spine and the lateral interphalangeal and interacromial joints, leading to narrowing of the foramen and consequent compression of the roots or joints. cervical spinal nerves at the synaptic foramina. The cause of cervical disc herniation accounts for about 20-25%. Less common causes include trauma, tumors, infections, osteoporosis, spondylitis, and paravertebral soft tissue diseases.
Other harmful effects of not stretching
Besides, some other harmful effects that can be encountered if you do not comply with muscle stretching when exercising are:
– Reduced flexibility: Without stretching, muscles and joints lose flexibility and range of motion. This can limit the ability to perform movements or cause difficulty in daily activities.
– Increased risk of injury: When muscles and joints do not achieve the necessary flexibility and endurance, the risk of injury during exercise increases. Tight muscles and joints that are not properly prepared can lead to injuries such as muscle strains, joint problems or even broken bones.