Muscle Stretching in Children: Exercises and Benefits
Stretching is a very important factor in children's psychomotor development. Try to do it regularly and very carefully so as not to damage it.
Muscle stretching is essential for the human body. In turn, the constant execution of this exercise allows for muscle development and reduces the chances of injury. This practice is also recommended since children are still babies.
Physical activity should not be limited by age, but should be adapted to the condition of each person. In this sense, one of the recommendations for muscle stretching exercises in children is that they be performed by parents or supervised by them.
Muscle stretching in children
The younger the child, the more complex it will be for him to engage in physical activity. In general, during the first few months of life, the little ones do not carry out physical activity on a scheduled basis.
However, the first year of life is a fundamental stage for the child's psychomotor development. And therefore, as mothers, you should focus on early stimulation and the importance of body stretching.
For all of the above, today we are going to teach you some muscle stretching exercises for kids that will be of great help. Take note!
Examples of muscle stretching exercises for children
Young children make some movements through the reflex arcs of the body. In this way, they gradually associate with the environment and learn to cope with fine motor skills.
Despite this, muscle stretching is much more complex than that and stands out as a third-party directed activity. In this case, the mother or the father.
It must be said that this exercise is not the equivalent of the occasional stretching of the little ones, which is usually unexpected and sporadic. On the contrary, these exercises are planned, specific and passive, as they require the action of another person.
Take note of the following tips!
1. Leg stretch
To stretch your baby's legs, make sure he is lying on his back.
From this position, hold your feet with each hand and begin to stimulate joint mobility in the hips, knees and ankles.
Then, bend both legs from the knee joint, one at a time. Try to bring them towards your chest, with a firm movement but without exerting excessive force. When you finish with one leg, do the same with the other.
Next, stretch both legs and let them rest. Take the baby for a walk and perform flexion and extension movements and finally hold that position for a few seconds.
2. Stretching of the arms
The arms should also be stimulated and stretched in a similar way to the legs.
To perform stretching exercises for children, you need to make sure they are flat on their backs on a firm, comfortable pillow.
To begin, take your right arm in your hand and bring it to the side and slightly back. Maintain the position for a few seconds. To improve the stretch, we advise you to place your other hand at chest height.
When you finish with the right arm, perform exactly the same exercise with the left arm.
To stretch both arms you have to hold them with your hands, bring them forward and cross them. Hold this position for a few seconds and return to the starting position so that the baby can rest .
Benefits of muscle stretching in children
There are many muscle stretching exercises, and every segment of the body can and should be stretched. However, the examples presented above refer to the main structures of the body: the arms and legs.
Ideally, you should implement these examples, as well as other stretching exercises, regularly throughout the week. This will support the following aspects of the child's well-being.
Prevention of contractures
The contracting structures cause discomfort and problems in the body. In children, a contracted muscle can lead to malformations or similar conditions. For this reason, stretching and recurrent stimulation can avoid these types of problems or improve existing ones.
Treatment of the disease
Muscle stretching also contributes to the treatment of various diseases. According to a publication from the University of Valladolid , this type of exercise is very effective in the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis.
On the other hand, according to a study published in the journal of Neurology , physiotherapy (which includes stretching exercises) applied to children with brachial palsy favors their rehabilitation.
Muscle tone building
Muscle tone is the light permanent tension of the muscles to achieve body support and posture.
From an early age in life, the muscles need to be stimulated and strengthened. Through these exercises it is possible to improve muscle tone throughout the body. In fact, continuous stretching offers the child the opportunity to maintain long postures.
Improvement of physical abilities
Performing muscle stretching and physical stimulation exercises contributes to the strengthening of different physical abilities. Although these types of skills develop over the course of life, childhood is very sensitive in this regard.
Muscle Stretching In Children: Never Do It Without Medical Approval
Muscle stretching has a number of benefits for the baby. Despite this, all the exercises you plan to do with your baby must be approved by your pediatrician .
Remember that all children are a different “universe” and some health conditions can generate a contraindication during stretching.
