Exercising is one of the most beneficial activities a person can do. Regular exercise can help relieve stress, help lose weight and help lower blood pressure in most cases. But staying limber can also be of utmost importance. Are you having difficulty reaching or bending? Don't feel alarmed! Many people begin to lose their flexibility in the late thirties; and if they don't work at staying limber, muscle strains, sore joints and even low back pain may be the result.

Home stretching is as good as any place to start. Be sure to warm up slowly. Don't bounce with stretching and do not "lock" your joints. Relax and take deep and easy breaths. Let's look at some basic stretches that can be done at home.

Shoulder Stretch. Gently pull your arm across your body with your elbow at neck height. Feel the stretch on the back of your shoulder. A little help with pulling your elbow with your other hand will add to the stretch.
Calf Stretch. Put both hands on the wall and put one leg straight behind you. Keeping the heel behind you on the floor, bend the other knee and slowly move the hips forward until you feel the stretch. Hold for 15 seconds and then try the other leg.
Hamstring Stretch. The hamstring muscles are those in the back of the leg. They are frequently the most neglected. Touching your toes with your knees straight will stretch the hamstrings. Or find a long bench (or top of a couch) and extend one of your legs while sitting and having the other leg rest on the floor. Gently lean forward and feel the stretch on the back of your legs.
Low Back Stretch. Lie on the floor with both knees bent, and put your feet on the floor. Gently pull one of your knees to the chest and feel that low back stretch.

Running, jumping and lifting weights may be part of your exercise program. But don't forget to stretch at the end of every exercise program. Keeping limber may prevent serious injuries in the future. There's nothing wrong with being "loose as a goose."

Dr. Robert Overholt has been in private practice for more than 30 years. He is the host of the television program "The Dr. Bob Show" airing weekly in 13 million homes on the Goodlife Television Network. If you have a question for Dr. Bob, write "The Dr. Bob Show" at 6700 Baum Drive, Suite 1, Knoxville, TN 37919 or send your e-mail to letters@drbobshow.com.