Warm Muscles Move Better, Here’s Why

By: Dr. Tiffany T. Butler | March 1, 2023 | Read Time: 3 minutes

Warming up your muscles and joints before performing any form of physical activity or exercise is considered standard. Did you know that increasing the body’s temperature may help to reduce injuries while exercising and improve performance? Whether you warm your body by increasing your heart rate, such as walking, jumping rope, performing dynamic stretches; using a heating pad, or soaking in a warm bath, this can have therapeutic effects.

Improve Joint Flexibility

Tight muscles result in a decreased range of motion. Whenever there is a decreased range of motion within joint(s), inflammation is likely to accumulate due to the lack of motion. Inflammation and a decrease in motion can lead to abnormal function or movement. For example, using a heating pad on your lower back muscle strain before performing rehab exercises may help to move better; versus if you just jumped into exercising without warming the tissues. In other words, you will be able to move further or go deeper into a stretch with less resistance from the tissues because the tissues are more relaxed and pliable.

Improve Joint Mobility

When the muscle is more relaxed, you are able to move better and with ease. As your motion improves, your body naturally moves and/or pumps inflammation out of the area (especially, if the area was recently injured as in a muscle strain). If you’ve ever experienced that “good hurt feeling”, well, this is similar to that. It hurts to move, but it feels good. Why? Because the more you move, the less pain can be perceived by the brain; and since our bodies are programmed to focus on one thing at a time when you focus on moving, you tend to focus less on the pain.

Dr. Tiffany T. Butler (aka “The Pain Doctor”) is a chiropractor, author, and entrepreneur. She leads Harmonious Living Chiropractic: Fitness & Wellness Center, a pain management practice, in offering healthcare solutions that focus on patient-centered care. Her team consists of individuals who are passionate about improving patient outcomes by providing chiropractic care, in conjunction with therapeutic procedures. Their services have helped hundreds of people find pain relief and improved their quality of life. To learn more about Dr. Butler visit https://www.drtiffanybutler.com/dr-butler/ Connect with Dr. Butler on social media #drtiffanybutler @drtiffanybutler