KEEP STRETCHING while injured or under the weather and your health as well as your fitness will benefit, found a small study from Japan.
A single 40-minute allover static limbering session significantly improved arterial function in the upper and lower body for up to an hour afterwards in one group of healthy, but relatively inactive, young men.
And repeating the session – which included 10 stretches for muscle groups in the arms, legs, neck and trunk performed three times and held for 30 seconds while sitting, standing and lying on the back and stomach – may result in long-term arterial benefit, said the researchers in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.