For most adults, experiencing pain in the lower back is bound to happen. Work, hobbies, and even normal activities put strain on the area and increase the likelihood that you’ll be in pain at some point in your life. Luckily, there are things you can do to get rid of that low back pain and reduce the risk of it coming back frequently. You just need to be willing to put in a little time and effort. Stretching is the easiest way to help keep you out of pain, but there are a number of other benefits that this simple type of exercise can give you.

Improves Your Posture
Your muscles are elastic. This means they stretch out and contract as needed to keep your body in the right position. However, with bad posture habits, it’s normal for muscles to get tight and stay in one single restricted range of movement. Once this happens, maintaining good posture is almost impossible. It might even hurt. Stretching helps reduce tension in your muscles by allowing them to lengthen back out. This, in turn, makes it easier for you to retain your body’s natural posture easily.

Enhances Your Range of Motion
As we mentioned above, your range of motion becomes limited when your muscles are tight. This makes it harder for you to move around and perform tasks that used to be easy when you were younger. When you stretch, you’ll slowly improve your range of motion which takes the strain off of your lower back muscles. Over time, you’ll find it easier to move and will stay less stiff, putting less strain on your back. All that translates to one thing: less pain in the long-run.

Boosts Blood Flow to Problem Areas
Good blood flow is key in helping your muscles recover and stay limber. However, if you’re constantly restricting their movement because they’re already stiff, you’ll cut down on the amount of blood flow your muscles receive. This makes healing take longer and increases the amount of pain you feel on a regular basis. By stretching even a little bit, you’ll improve your blood flow and thereby improve your muscles’ health. 

Reduces Stress
Think about what makes your muscles tight so often. If you’re like most people, it’s stress. The more you can de-stress and relax, the easier it will be to prevent that annoying low back pain. Stretching for a few minutes each day can help you unwind and improve your stress response over time. You don’t have to commit to a full half-hour session every day. Just a little in the morning and anytime you’re feeling stiff will be enough to help you relax.

Start Stretching Today
Stretching is one of the best things you can do for your muscles, especially as you progress in your recovery from even moderate injuries. Just make sure you’re stretching the right way. Schedule an appointment with your trusted Wyoming physical therapist and let us show you the best stretches for your body’s needs. Over time, we’ll work to improve your mobility, range of motion, and reduce your pain symptoms as much as we can.