Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: chris on 01/04/2007 09:46:36

Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: chris on 01/04/2007 09:46:36: We all enjoy a good stretch, but why? I was watching my baby daughter the other day and she was busy stretching her arms too. Dogs do the same. So I wonder how this is wired up in the nervous system?

Chris
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: paul.fr on 01/04/2007 10:12:46: I would suppose you are relaxing the muscles that had gone stiff during your sleep, and increasing the flow of blood around those muscles.

Is yawning involved? we often have a good stretch with a yawn.
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Negin -(Universe) on 01/04/2007 18:46:07: i was discussing this with a group of friends at college and a friend of mine suggested that when we stretch a hormone is released which affects the pleasure centre in the brain and hence why we feel really good when we stretch. unfortunaltly i cant recall the name of the hormone, (im searhcing for the name).

Negin
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Karen W. on 01/04/2007 18:55:36: Appreciate your input and welcome to the forum Negin! I hope you enjoy your time here. If you need anything please do not hesitate to let me or another mod know and we will be glad to try to help you!
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Negin -(Universe) on 01/04/2007 18:57:50: thank you Karen
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Karen W. on 08/04/2007 21:14:49: You Are very welcome How are you enjoying the forum ? Have you found everything satisfactory??
Quote from: chris on 01/04/2007 09:46:36
We all enjoy a good stretch, but why? I was watching my baby daughter the other day and she was busy stretching her arms too. Dogs do the same. So I wonder how this is wired up in the nervous system?

Chris

You Know that was one of my favorite times to watch to see the complete enjoyment of that most gratifying stretch.. I remember when I would wake up and could stretch like that to the point my body would shake at the release of the muscle tension. It was Glorious... That only happens once in a blue moon these days and it is difficult because these days when I arch my back to stetch two things happen, My back cramps up and then I cannot extend my left shoulder as it is sore and stiff due to who knows what and when.. Is there a reason that the stretching might cause the back cramping, Like a charlie horse! Usually in the right side right above the kidney areaand up. If I don't cease the stretch it moves into my right leg also! Could it be lack of excercise causing this.. I don't get much aside from walking!
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Seany on 10/04/2007 15:32:18: Um. Yeah, it relaxes the muscle which has been working and is now tight. I think it also helps with the joint, as the joint becomes jammed throughout the day, and it helps to relax the joints as well. Just a thought.
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Karen W. on 10/04/2007 16:13:26: Thanks I will take that into my consideration as I do have a bad hip joint!
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: tony6789 on 10/04/2007 16:27:47: lol
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Negin -(Universe) on 11/04/2007 21:29:35: Quote from: Karen W. on 08/04/2007 21:14:49
You Are very welcome How are you enjoying the forum ? Have you found everything satisfactory??

sorry for the late reply karen,
I am actually very much enjoying the forum, to be honest with exams coming up, in college, we dotn get a good chance of sitting down and discussing scientific issues and having the forum easily accessible is just what I need to make my brain think throughout the day
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Seany on 11/04/2007 21:32:21: Yep, Universe. I think that too, with exams in 18 days [:o]
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Negin -(Universe) on 11/04/2007 21:46:50: WOW, at least mine are in about a month time. i assume you're at university. i am doing A2's
Good Luck
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Seany on 11/04/2007 21:50:47: Nope, I'm 13 year old lol. I'm taking my scholarship exams for 13+ schools :)
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Negin -(Universe) on 11/04/2007 21:56:56: Great, which country do you live in?
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Seany on 11/04/2007 22:04:03: England =)
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Negin -(Universe) on 11/04/2007 22:14:35: best of luck.
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Karen W. on 12/04/2007 05:51:59: Good luck to both of you!
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: anthony on 12/04/2007 09:51:27: When you're still for a while, particularly in a stiff fashion, blood starts to "pool" in certain parts of the body, this leads to a lower return of blood to the heart through the viens and essentially less blood ciculation. We stretch and all that blood gets returned to the heart in a rush, with the assistence of our muscles pushing the blood out of it's pooled areas. The heart pumps more blood through to the lungs and round again, result - instant blood boost.

Yawning has pretty much the same effect as the stretching out around the heart by pushing your diaphram down pulls more blood into the heart and so circulates more blood.

Thanks to a nephrologist (kidney-doc) for this. I've got the feeling there's a little bit more to it. But we'll see what people say.
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Seany on 12/04/2007 11:40:18: Thanks Karen. And good luck to you Universe :)
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Karen W. on 12/04/2007 16:31:13: Your welcome!
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Negin -(Universe) on 13/04/2007 08:45:05: thanks Karen
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Karen W. on 13/04/2007 10:13:14: Your welcome too!
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Seany on 13/04/2007 11:20:20: Lol, Karen you taking any exams? [:P] Wanna give you some luck! [:P]
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Karen W. on 13/04/2007 13:17:39: Are you a lucky kind a boy Seany? No exams for me Thank goodness.Perhaps in the fall if I make it that long.. Me is an old tired women right now!! I have to go back to school come september.. we will see!
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Seany on 13/04/2007 13:19:02: Lol, what do you mean lucky? [:D]
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Karen W. on 13/04/2007 14:55:15: CAn I rub your head and get some good luck? Thats what I mean!! LOL
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Seany on 13/04/2007 14:58:55: Don't rub it. Just take one strand of hair, and that will bring luck for the rest of your life. You may even win the lottery! Or get that insomnia sorted! [:P]
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Karen W. on 13/04/2007 15:07:40: LOL.. You are a funny Kid..WHOOO WHOOOOOO!! YAYYYYYY! LOL!
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Seany on 13/04/2007 15:11:30: *OWwww..* It really hurt when you pulled it out.. I swear you pulled 5 to get yourself more luck. [:o]
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Karen W. on 13/04/2007 15:41:02: You might be right I could not find me spectacles to see your wee head.. So sorry Young Sir!LOL
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: Seany on 16/04/2007 02:00:06: I looked at the mirror recently. I may have been wrong about the "5 strand" thing. I think it was more like 50.. I have a bald patch! [:o]
Title: Why is stretching so pleasant?
Post by: OldDragon on 13/06/2008 15:26:08: This is quite an interesting post for me, and may have relevance to my case.
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=15112.0

My normal routine involves a twice hourly series of simple stretching exercises and that I have built upon over the years to help my mobility and upper body strenth, also to help clear my chest during those times of the year when pollen allergies affect me. These exercises have been compromised over the last few weeks due to the surgery restrictions and ensuing inflammation and muscle spasms.

Could be a connection.