What Happens To Your Body If You Never Stretch
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By Emily Rhode/April 10, 2021 6:40 pm EST
All the parts of your body, from your muscles to your bones to your organs, are surrounded by a stretchy mesh of connective tissue called fascia. This fibrous webbing is a series of layers made up of collagen with water in between that help provide structure for everything inside of you. It acts like a safety net for your muscles and joints by wrapping around them and helping them move properly without going too far in the wrong direction and tearing. When your fascia is healthy, it has a smooth, flexible texture that allows your muscles to easily slide past one another without tearing. However, certain things can cause your fascia to lose its flexibility and become sticky or even hard (via Healthline).
Stretching affects more than you think
So how can stretching eliminate damage to your fascia and help keep your muscles loose? When your muscles are tight, the fascia around them will harden and form tiny balls of collagen called adhesions. These adhesions are no longer smooth and slick and can start sticking to other tissue, causing misalignment and restricting motion. Stretching your muscles helps eliminate the tightness that causes the surrounding fascia to harden and restrict your movement or even cause pain and injury.
