5 stretches to help increase your flexibility

No matter what your level of physical fitness, or preferred exercise, stretching should be an essential part of that routine. Stretching helps you keep your muscles flexible and develop strength.

What’s more, if you’re spending more time sitting down, muscles may become tight. That may put them at risk for becoming weak or unable to extend all the way, which in turn, may cause joint pain, muscle strain or damage. By practicing these gentle exercises, it may help you feel more limber with less tension. It may also help prevent future injury or even falls.

If you are a UnitedHealthcare member Medicare with Renew Active® – the gold standard in Medicare fitness programs for body and mind – you also have resources available to you that can help keep you on track with your health. These include:

• Access to over 26,000 gyms and fitness locations – or, if you prefer to work out at home, access to thousands of on-demand workout videos and live streaming fitness classes
• Customized online workouts from Age Bold to help prevent falls
• Membership costs paid for online or in-person social clubs as part of Element3™ Health

Whether you are a UnitedHealthcare Medicare member or not, here are five stretches you can do from your own home to help you keep those muscles limber and increase your flexibility. 

You should feel this one in the top of your leg.

• Sit up straight in a chair and cross one leg onto the other, resting your ankle on the opposite knee to make a “figure 4".
• Gently press your knee down.
• With your other hand, grab your heel and lift up.
• Keep your shoulders back, continuing to sit up straight.
• Hold for 10-15 seconds and then rest.
• Do this two or three times then alternate legs.

You’ll feel this stretch in the back of your front leg.

• Place hands on the front seat of a chair, with one leg stretched out in front of the other.
• Your feet should be flat on the ground and pointed straight ahead.
• Keep your back straight with a small bend in the knees.
• Press your hips back and hold for 10-15 seconds, then rest.
• Do this two or three times then alternate legs.

You’ll feel this on the opposite side lateral.

• Sit up straight in a chair, with your feet flat and pointing straight ahead.
• Place your hands behind your head, elbows out to the side, while squeezing your shoulder blades together.
• Lean your elbow towards one hip.
• Squeeze your shoulder blades together as you lean. Avoid leaning forward. Keep your body as straight as possible.
• Hold for 10-15 seconds and rest.
• Do this two or three times then alternate sides.

You can put your arms out for balance for this one, while keeping your back straight.

• Bring a foot forward like a standing lunge.
• Bend front knee as far as is comfortable.
• Keep your front foot flat, with your back heel up and both feet facing forward.
• Press your hips forward, bringing your front knee towards the toe of your shoe. Your front foot should always stay flat.
• Hold for 10-15 seconds, then rest.
• Do this two or three times then alternate legs.

Be sure to keep your shoulders away from your ears.

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and in a comfortable stance.
• Clasp hands together behind your back and lift your arms up toward the ceiling until you feel a good stretch.
• Stand up straight.
• Hold for 10-15 seconds, then rest.
• Do this two or three times.

To find UnitedHealthcare plans that offer Renew Active, visit UHCMedicareHealthPlans.com.

Talk with your doctor about healthy ways to incorporate fitness into your routine. For individuals recovering from an injury, consider seeking advice from a physical therapist who may identify areas requiring special focus.