We’ve all heard it before: we need to stretch whenever we want to join in a game of football or when we go jogging. Ever since primary school, we have been taught that stretching before partaking in any strenuous physical activity is vital if we want to avoid serious injury. All the top athletes do it, but that still isn’t enough motivation for us to do it on a daily basis.

So why do we stretch? Stretching can be beneficial in many ways. The most apparent reason is the one we have been lectured about – that doing stretches reduces the risk of getting hurt during and after any physical activity. But why exactly is that? Every time we stretch, oxygenated blood gets circulated throughout the body and brain. This not only improves our physical and mental functions, but flushes the unwanted toxins out of our body. Our joints, muscles, and tendons lose much of their flexibility as we get older, so the more you stretch while you are still young, the more physically active you’ll be in the future.

Stretching is also an effective stress-reliever. Your muscles store excess tensions when you are under physical or emotional stress. Stretching the stress-targeted areas serves to dispel these tensions. However, the most important reason for stretching, from an osteopath’s perspective, is to maintain your back. The back can get stiff easily because it can only move in three directions, so as the back makes up the basis our musculoskeletal system, it is important that we keep in as fluid and flexible as possible.

You are recommended to undergo a stretch routine at least three times a week, stretching in the mornings, after your muscles have been warmed by a hot shower, or in the evenings, when your muscles have been warmed naturally throughout the day.

Despite what professionals say, it is not easy to maintain a stretching routine – for the simple reason that they are tedious. It is easy to set up a stretch routine, but following it is a different story. The best way to make yourself stick to a routine is by making the exercises fun. Instead of doing your stretches by yourself, for example, do them with a friend or relative – mundane things are much more interesting with company around. Or if there is a news or television program you watch regularly, do you stretches in front of the telly. This way, you get your stretches done and no one can call you a couch-potato.

There has been much controversy recently over the effectiveness of static stretching (stretching while stationary): some experts are now arguing that static stretching makes your muscles weaker. There is no substantial evidence to support this theory yet, however, so the best thing to do is just to find the right balance between the stretches you do. Do not stay in one stretch position for too long, for instance, and try to include as much movement into each stretch (i.e. swinging your arms or legs instead of holding them still). Additionally, try to have shorter stretch periods throughout the day -avoid the long sessions.

In this new age of technology, you are constantly bombarded with new medical ‘discoveries’ or tips on how to do certain things, such as stretches. While most of these are useful, it is important for you to realize what works for you, and what doesn’t. If a stretch does not work, do something different! Regardless of whether you are a top athlete or just merely trying to stay healthy, doing stretches regularly is very important for your future wellbeing.