Stretching may be done at any time of the day and can involve a great
number of exercises. Probably your first stretch of the day is done
just before or just after you get up. Your muscles have not moved
much all night and need to be reminded of what they are designed
to do. Watch a cat or dog when it wakes up. The first thing it does
is stretch. Everyone needs a certain amount of flexibility or range
of motion in the joints. Stretching exercises are the way to increase
flexibility.
This Web site provides background information to help you safely
do stretch exercises, a printable handout and video demonstrations
of the exercises.
Donna Terbizan,
PhD, Professor
Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences Julie Garden-Robinson, PhD, LRD, Food and Nutrition Specialist,
NDSU Extension Service