Health QUOTE of the week

To maintain flexibility, incorporate regular stretching exercises into your daily routine. Focus on stretching major muscle groups such as hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, shoulders and back. Hold each stretch for about 30 seconds without bouncing, as bouncing can cause muscle strain. 
Gradually increase the intensity and duration of your stretches over time for improved flexibility and mobility.

Our story of the week

Stretching — you don’t need special clothing. You don’t need any gear. You can do it indoors or outdoors at your own pace. And, yet, stretching and flexibility may be the most overlooked and underrated elements of a healthy lifestyle.

Flexibility allows us to get more out of our other workouts and can help us do basic things around the house, like reaching a high shelf, bending when unloading the dryer or squatting while gardening. Flexibility has also been associated with stress reduction and mental and physical relaxation.

“Research has shown that both men and women lose range of motion as they age,” explained Kim Durst PT, DPT, physical therapist and clinical director at Axis Physical Therapy. “Our muscles and other tissues become less elastic. But range of motion can be even more diminished in certain circumstances like when someone is dealing with an injury or arthritis. When someone experiences pain, a significant loss of motion may occur, and once a joint moves less, it will adapt to that smaller range of movement.”

Learn more about maintaining flexibility as you age.

Spoonful of humor

I’ve started telling everyone about the benefits of eating dried grapes. It’s all about raisin awareness.

Source: smarts-ef.org/blog/25-cognitive-flexibility-jokes/

SPOTLIGHT

The science blog Zest featured a story about the correlation between flexibility and longevity.

“Some of the biggest risk factors for premature aging are physical injuries or illnesses that limit range of motion, such as previous hip fractures, foot and ankle injuries or deformities, joint problems, and sciatica or other spinal issues impacting mobility,” the September 2023 post noted. The blog post included good news: “A simple stretching protocol of only five minutes per muscle group per week can keep you limber well into your later years. As well as greatly decreasing your risk of death and cardiovascular disease.”

Learn more about how to stay limber and live longer.

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What’s on your mind?

What would you be willing to do to help with the increasing number of opioid overdoses in South Carolina?

25.0%   said   Train, carry and administer naloxone.
25.0%   said   Connect loved ones to resources.
0.0%    said    Donate to opioid prevention programs.
50.0%  said    All of the above.

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THANKS FOR READING!

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