Here at Ambleside Chiropractic in West Vancouver, our Chiropractor in West Vancouver gets asked lots of questions about how to make sure the whole family is practicing and making healthy lifestyle choices. One question that we get asked a lot is, “Do kids really need to stretch?” and the answer is always: yes!
Whether your child is playing sports at school or getting ready for an activity after school like soccer, swimming, or hockey, stretching is an essential part of reducing injuries and creating a better performance no matter what they do. Even though we all take children’s flexibility for granted (it seems like they can do anything!), stretching should still be a big part of their everyday routine.
Can Stretching Cause Problems For Children?
Stretching needs to be performed correctly and at the right time. It’s important to focus on both dynamic and static stretching and learning when and how to incorporate stretches into daily activities and exercise. As most children participate in group sports and gym, a parent should stress the importance of stretching. In fact, a majority of team sports and gym activities do not place a priority on stretching. There might be a suggestion for a quick stretch before working out or playing a sport, but after the game or workout, there is almost no direction to stretch at all.
Stretching Is Important For Everyone, No Matter what Age
Learning how to stretch correctly can revolutionize how you feel after exercising or carrying out everyday activities. Practice proper stretching techniques alongside your kids and you will all feel the benefits of stretching almost right away. Stretching goes a long way to improving your joints, spine and bone health throughout your life – as an experienced Chiropractor in West Vancouver, we can’t say how crucial it is to stretch when you should! Stretching also reduces your chance and reduces the severity of injuries.
Prevent Injuries
Although it seems like kids might be more flexible than adults, they’re just as prone to sprains, strains, and sporting injuries as the rest of us. Learning proper stretching techniques is a great way to reduce the chances of kids having aches, pains and soreness after a long session of sports or exercise. For high octane sports, like soccer, football, hockey, or gymnastics, it is imperative that children must be getting the right sort of stretches done before and after activity.
Taking Care of Your Joints and Body From an Early Age
Most people don’t start to take their joints into consideration until they start aching when they mature. One easy way to make sure you feel great as your body ages is to start stretching regularly as soon as possible. From a young age into your teens and then into young adulthood, if the premises of a good stretching routine is emphasized to your kids, they’ll see the benefits in the future!
Simply? Stretching Feels Good!
Even children can feel the benefit of stretching after exercising or playing sports. It’s a great group activity that can be shared in the classroom, field, rink, gym or at home. Stretching is straightforward and easy to learn. Forming an excellent stretching habit from an early age will pay dividends into adulthood.
Learning How to Stretch – Advice From Your Chiropractor in West Vancouver
Learning how to stretch begins with learning when to stretch. Children should stretch before and after exercise, with the stretches before exercising being dynamic rather than static. Dynamic stretching involves moving around, such as swinging your arms, bouncing your legs, or doing some light cardio. Once finished, it’s time for static stretching, holding a position for 20-30 seconds. It’s also essential to concentrate on stretching the primary muscles used during a particular sport or exercise. For example, after a soccer practice, emphasis on stretching the hamstrings, hip flexors, and calves are important. If swimming, stretching your pecs, arms, and shoulders together with your legs is a requirement.
Stretching is quick, easy, and simple to teach in a classroom environment. If a child does feel any pain during or after exercise, stretches are a straightforward way of helping them to recover quickly. In the event that pain continues, it’s time to consult a medical professional, such as a chiropractor. Never stretch if you’re in pain. There could be other medical issues that need to be addressed first, like tears or avulsion fractures.
Making Stretching Fun
There are lots of fun ways to introduce stretching to kids, including games, group activities, and enjoying the outdoors. Fun old-school party games like Twister are actually a great way to get kids stretching after exercise and can be whipped up easily with some tape and a clear floor. Group activities, like dancing or playing giant board games (Snakes and Ladders comes to mind!), are also a great way to introduce stretching. Lastly, adventure parks and playgrounds are the perfect place for kids, small and large, to get some stretching done.
So, Do Kids Really Need To Stretch?
The answer is a resounding yes, but only if they’re stretching in the right way! Dynamic stretches before exercise, static stretching afterwards. Regular stretching is a guaranteed way to keep your body feeling strong and healthy throughout your early years and beyond. Children will be thankful in the future if good stretching habits are introduced early. If you’re unsure about where to start, our Chiropractor in West Vancouver will be happy to help.
