Stretching an important part of fitness

DEAR DOCTOR K >> At my last appointment, my doctor noticed that my movements have become stiffer. He suggested that I do some stretching exercises daily. Is there anything I should know before I start? I’m in my 80s, and I don’t want to hurt myself. DEAR READER >> Our bodies become less flexible as the years roll by. Inflexibility puts a crimp in daily acts. Stretching can help.

You’ll make the best gains if you stretch frequently — all or most days of the week. At the very least, stretch two or three times a week.

The following tips will help protect your muscles and joints while ensuring that you gain flexibility:

• WARM UP FIRST. Muscles stretch more easily when warm. Dynamic stretches — a golf swing is a good example — take specific muscles and joints through a full range of motion. Dynamic stretches can warm you up for static stretches, which involve holding a position that stretches a muscle. (I’ve put photos and descriptions of several dynamic stretches on my website, AskDoctorK.com.) Moist heat packs or a warm shower also help warm up your muscles.

In my experience, this advice is most important with the arms and shoulders. I’ve had quite a number of patients who started to do strength training with their arms. However, they did not first swing their arms to put their shoulders through a full range of motion, loosening up the muscles and the soft tissues inside the shoulder joints. As a result, the strength training caused a shoulder injury, such as a torn rotator cuff.

• FEEL NO PAIN. Stretch only to the point of mild tension, never to the point of pain. If a stretch hurts, stop immediately. Then gently try the same motion again. With time and practice, your flexibility will improve.

• PAY ATTENTION TO GOOD FORM. Good form translates to better gains in flexibility and less likelihood of injury when stretching tight muscles.

• WORK TO KEEP YOUR FLEXIBILITY IN BALANCE. You’ll notice that one side of your body often is tighter than the other. Work on balancing this over time.

• BREATHE. Breathe comfortably while stretching, or use yoga breathing. Yoga breathing is relaxing and meditative. Try practicing this beginner yoga breathing technique so you can apply it while holding your stretches:

(1) Sit or lie down comfortably, resting your hands below your navel.

(2) Tune in to the way you breathe. Inhale and exhale naturally through your nose for a few minutes, noticing the slight rise and fall of your hand.

(3) Start to count silently forward (one, two, three ...), then backward (... three, two, one), as you breathe in and out.

(4) Gradually make each exhalation twice as long as each inhalation. Focus on breathing slowly and smoothly.

Stretching should be part of every exercise program, along with aerobic exercise, strength training and (for some) balance exercises. Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. To send questions, go to AskDoctorK. com, or write: Ask Doctor K, 10 Shattuck St., Second Floor, Boston, MA 02115.