Healthcare officials emphasize the importance of partaking in a daily exercise routine to stay fit, healthy and upbeat, according to a published report.
Physical therapist Jessica Giraldo agrees and also emphasizes the importance of stretching, noting it helps enhance range of motion, Business2Community reports. She also encourages the practice for people who do not exercise regularly as stretching at home is simple to do.
"Stretching lengthens muscle tissue making our muscles more flexible and less prone to injury," she told the publication. "It also enhances blood flow to muscle which helps to warm it up and prepares it for exercise. Therefore, stretching is important for several reasons. When muscles are tight they are more prone to injury … Gentle stretching helps to correct muscle imbalances and therefore relieves pain in muscles and joints."
People who do not stretch, whether or not they go to a gym, are more likely to need physical therapy when they are older, she said.
The work of a physical therapist is physically demanding as the person holding the physical therapy job typically is required to bend, stoop, crouch, lift and perform other action necessary to keep up with needs of clients, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.