We roll our shoulders and stretch our backs because it feels relaxing, refreshing and maybe even rejuvenating. But why is that?
In healthy adults, the stretch leads to a quick drop in blood pressure, researchers have found. And the body’s reaction to the movement may explain why we feel calmer after we stretch.
Physicians at the University of Minnesota speculate that stretching the upper back muscles triggers a reflex through the parasympathetic nervous system, which may explain the feeling of relaxation. Last month, the researchers published some of their findings in a small study for the scientific journal Physiological Reports.
Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.