Do This Satisfying Stretch Every Morning To Avoid Brittle Joints As You Age

As we live our daily lives, many of us will often find ourselves struggling more and more with our aging bodies.

From something as simple as getting up out of our favorite chair, to bending down to pick things up or play with our children, can become increasingly strenuous. 

This is something everyone will deal with in their lifetime, and a surprising amount of people just accept it as their new norm.

Thankfully, this does not have to be the case.

It is possible to help our aging bodies; and the best part? It’s a simple stretch you can do before even getting out of bed!

The Benefits Of Stretching

Many people are aware of the benefits stretching can have on the body, but often do not realize just how much good these gentle exercises have to offer.

With a large portion of the population working jobs which can involve a lot of physical labor, or sitting at a desk for upwards of nine hours each day, reports of lower back pain have rocketed.

Resulting in lower back pain being the most common ailment according to the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC). 

That is why we are here, trying to convince you to try the knees-to-chest stretch.

This stretch is one of many which can offer people a variety of health benefits, all of which can aid the aging process and help us feel youthful for longer!

Some of the benefits of implementing a regular stretch routine include;

Stress Levels

One of the most talked about benefits you have to gain from stretching is a peaceful mindset.

Yoga has been growing exceptionally in popularity in recent years, and one of the most commonly reported gains people have is the drop in their levels of stress as they take time to complete short routines throughout their day.

Improved Mobility

Unsurprisingly, completing stretches (even gentle ones!) can have an impressive effect on your flexibility and mobility.

Taking the time to stretch your joints and muscles helps them relax and loosen up.

In turn, this can reduce the likelihood of injuring yourself in other areas of life!

Helping your posture

Following on from the improved mobility, when our muscles are more relaxed our posture is also able to improve.

Bad posture, such as hunched shoulders or pelvic tilts, are often caused by an imbalance in how tight our muscles are.

Making stretches a regular part of your routine can help fix and prevent these imbalances, and improve your overall posture.

Soreness

This is another benefit which links closely with the previous two points!

When a person has a lot of tightness in their muscles and joints, this can often lead to soreness and aches.

By implementing a stretch routine and loosening your muscles, it is possible to help reduce a lot of soreness and aches.

(That being said, if you are experiencing more pain than usual, be sure to visit a doctor or physician for a professional opinion first! The last thing you want to do is potentially worsen a situation.)

Regular stretching doesn’t need to be time consuming to work!

According to the Mayo Clinic just two to three short sessions a week can help you achieve a real difference.

The knees-to-chest stretch

Today we are going to take a look at one particular stretch. It is known as the knees-to-chest stretch, and can prove very helpful for those of us that suffer from back ache (especially in the mornings!)

The stretch itself is incredibly simple, and accessible to just about everyone. As the name suggests, you simply raise your knees to your chest and hug them. It’s good to hold any stretch for at least 30 seconds, but it is crucial that you listen to what your body is saying.

With any sort of stretch it is normal to feel some discomfort, especially if you are not particularly limber to begin with. However, this discomfort should not be considered painful, and ideally should dissipate after a few moments. 

Long term benefits of knees to chest stretching

At a glance, it can be difficult to see just what one has to gain from curling up into a fetal-like position and hugging your knees.

But this particular stretch can actually improve your physical wellbeing from day one.

One of the first things you will notice when you implement this simple stretch, is an improvement to your spine.

By bringing your knees up and holding them to your chest, you are allowing your spine to properly stretch. 

Many people choose to do the knees-to-chest stretch first thing in the morning for a multitude of reasons, the most obvious one being the convenience.

Stretching like this is best done when lying down; and so it makes sense to do it when you are either settling down for the night, or getting ready for the day ahead. 

Knees-to-chest is a particularly great addition to your morning routine as it can help knead out any knots left in your back from your nights rest.

The reality is though, including it in any part of your day will provide you with a substantial amount of back relief. 

So what are you waiting for?