Top 3 Lower Body Stretches for the Winter
We all know that stretching is an important part of any workout routine, but stretching gets increasingly more vital as the weather dips below freezing.
Rob Parent, CMI’s in-house physical therapist, says that stretching on a daily basis is a great habit to get into – especially if you’re stuck behind a desk for most of the day. “Everything gets colder in the winter, which can lead to muscle tightness and less flexibility,” says Parent. “When this happens, you can experience an increased risk of pinched nerves as well as more damage to muscle tissue, causing an increase in soreness.
To counteract winter’s effects on our muscles, Rob suggests three easy lower body stretches that can be done at home or in the office.
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Ankle Circles – while seated, point your toes toward the ceiling and rotate your foot clockwise 5x. Do the same counter clockwise.
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Hamstring Stretches – while seated, place your ankle on the floor with toes relaxed. While sitting tall, slowly lean forward to stretch your hamstring muscle. Do the same with the other leg.
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Quad Stretch – Stand and bring one foot back behind your body. Grab your ankle and move your thigh backwards, stretching out your quadricep. Do for each leg.
These quick and easy stretches will help keep you more limber all year!