Stretching is essential to keep your joints and muscles healthy

"The problem is, as we get older, we often lose flexibility. If you don't use it, you lose it,"

As we age, the soft tissue surrounding the joints which is muscles, ligaments, and tendons tends to thicken. And as it thickens, this can limit our range of motion or our flexibility within the joint. We tend to get more hunched over, and our walking stride shortens, making it extra important to stretch frequently. So, maintaining flexibility and joint mobility is critical to aging gracefully and staying active.

There are two main types of stretching:

Static Stretching: static stretches should be done after activity when your muscles are warmed up.

Static stretching requires you to move a muscle as far as it can go without feeling any pain, then hold that position for 20 to 45 seconds. Static stretches should be used as part of your cool-down routine to help prevent injury.

Dynamic Stretching: dynamic stretches loosen tissues and muscles more effectively before physical activity.

Dynamic stretches are controlled movements that prepare your muscles, ligaments and other soft tissues for performance and safety. It involves the active tightening of your muscles and moving your joints through their full range of motion throughout the stretch.

Dynamic stretching is usually done at the beginning of an exercise program after a proper warm-up, while static stretching is usually performed after exercising.

Any healthy workout routine should include stretching exercises. That's because stretching provides a variety of health benefits.

Regular exercise, coupled with specific flexibility programs can increase your resistance to injury and chronic pain. It can also decrease body fat, increase muscle mass, increases blood and oxygen flow around the body. It just aids in overall wellness and performance.