I come from a long line of spry women who have stayed active and mobile into old age. Both my grandmother and my mother held firm beliefs in a daily stretch, religiously performing a set of exercises that no giggles from me could discourage.
Since hitting 40, my joints and muscles get tight quicker and, after exertion, hurt longer. So, following in the steps of my ancestors, I sought advice from David Hryvniak, DO, a physical medicine doctor who works with athletes in the Runner’s Clinic here at UVA.
In these short clips, Hryvniak shows me a series of basic stretches. My mother and grandmother were right: Regular stretching can help keep you limber and prevent injuries that occur from being too sedentary or from exercise.
About These Stretches
This daily stretch routine can:
- Improve range of motion and function, help prevent injuries and ease pain to your musculoskeletal system
- Be performed daily or biweekly, holding each position for 30-40 seconds
- Warm you up before elliptical, running or swimming exercises
- Work well after exercise, when muscles are warm and ready to be stretched
The Daily Stretch Routine
Neck Stretch
Purpose: Helps neck pain, improve range of motion
Description: Look from side to side, up and down, ear to shoulder
Shoulder Stretch
Purpose: Helps with frozen shoulder, rotator cuff injury
Description: Against a wall or in the shower, stretch arm up in air above head, to the side, behind, across chest
Low Back Stretch
Purpose: Helps with back and hip pain caused by a tightened hip flexor, often the result of sitting too long in a flexed position
Description: Get down on one knee; keep back straight, other leg bent, stretch forward
Hip Stretch
Purpose: Helps with sciatica, gluteal pain in your sacral iliac joint
Description: Bend one leg, cross ankle on knee
Quadricep Stretch
Purpose: Leg tightness; great for athletes and runners
Description: Pull foot behind you
Hamstring Stretch
Purpose: Leg tightness; especially great for swimmers and runners
Description: Put your leg on a surface not too far off the ground, keep knee straight and stretch torso over leg
Foot Stretch
Purpose: Helps heel and arch pain (plantar fasciitis), from tight band of tissue on sole of your foot
Description: Stretch toes back; can be done while sitting and watching TV
Calf Stretch
Purpose: Eases ankle, Achilles, calf pain; good for runners and dancers
Description: Press both hands against a wall; bend front leg, straighten back leg for 30-40 seconds, then bend knee in back leg for another 30-40 seconds
Do you have a favorite stretch?
Share in the comments below.
This is a really nice, easy stretch workout for anyone, and can be done anywhere, anytime. I do these a lot and I love them. Thanks so much for reminding me!
the hip stretch makes my knee hurt
Robin, if anything hurts, don’t do it! Consider seeing a doctor who can provide you specific exercises to help you with your knee. Good luck! Amy