In our daily lives, this can have a profound effect over time. Millions of people globally are now off work with back pain, as workers spend more hours seated either in offices or travelling. Health care services globally are also struggling to deal with the rising number of joint injuries – many of which are caused by muscle tightness.  

Work Practices Have Changed  

Since Covid, a lot more people now work from home. Although this can be beneficial in terms of travel and improving the work/home life balance – it often means people have become less active. They no longer have to take trains or walk as much to work. Even the change of environment can have an effect. Scientists have found that staying at home and even not changing your clothes can slow down the nervous system, which sometimes makes us feel more lethargic.  

Generally, people lead busier lives now. The cost of living has risen significantly in the last 10 years, meaning longer hours at work. Companies often demand more of their workers now in terms of overall hours of work, working at weekends and shorter deadlines. Developments in IT and electronic communications have also led to a ‘faster’ work environment – with real-time communication and huge email lists. 

Muscles, Tendons and Nerves  

Did you know that muscles run into tendon, and tendon then attaches to the bone ? Tendon is very strong, but if it’s continually under pressure from tight muscles it can be damaged. It can inflame, get minor tears, or completely rupture – meaning it splits in two. People with joint pain often think it’s a problem deep in the joint, when often it’s inflammation or damage to the tendon caused by tight muscle.  

Did you also know that nerves run in between muscles ? This means that when muscles get tight, they can compress the nerves bringing pain to the immediate area – but you can also get referred pain. Referred pain, is pain that you feel in other areas of your body due to compression of a nerve somewhere else. A good example of this is that when the nerve endings around your spinal column get compressed, you can often feel pain in your legs and even your feet. This is because your Sciatic Nerve (a huge motorway in your road system of nerves) runs down your back and into your legs.  

How Can Stretching Make You Stronger ?  

Did you know that muscles can grow in length as well as width ? As well as being stronger through a wider range of movement you will also increase general strength. Pliable muscle also tends to react better. So, when your brain asks the muscles to do something, they can react more quickly and efficiently. 

Why Do I Need Guidance in Stretching ?

Targeting the correct muscles

Its sometimes difficult to target the correct muscles and you might not even be aware which muscles you need to stretch. There are 650 muscles throughout your body, all carrying out different functions – so some professional guidance is necessary. ‘Stretch Out’ has videos that will take you though the process stage by stage. 

Learning Correct Technique

If a stretch is done incorrectly, it often won’t stretch the chosen area and even worsenit can be dangerous. Many people have done courses, or joined groups where they have put pressure on their neck or hyper-extended their lower backs causing damages to the discs.