Stretching Exercises for Students
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Flexibility is the range of motion throughout a joint. It is not only important in the performance of activities of daily living without injury but also important for relaxation and re-focusing.
For special needs students: Do not allow students to stretch beyond normal limits. Active-Assisted Range of Motion can be used for students too weak to perform entire range of motion. Some students may need the assistance of exercise bands.
It is recommended that students perform a short cardiovascular warm-up before stretching.
Stretches for Students to Try!
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Extend your arms out in front. Spread/stretch your fingers wide.
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Raise your arms over your head with your fingers locked together.
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Lower your right ear to your right shoulder. Then, lower your left ear to your left shoulder.
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Reach your arm over your head, then bend at the waist to the right, and then to the left side.
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While seated, bring one knee to your chest and hold. Then repeat with the other knee.
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While seated in a chair, place one hand in your lap, and stretch the other hand over your head. Bend to the side and count to 10 then switch sides.
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In a chair with your feet flat on the floor, keep your knee bent but pick one foot off the floor and hold for 10 seconds. Then switch to the other foot. Then, stretch your legs out straight and reach toward your toes.
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Stand up straight with your arms extended out to your side. Bend slightly backwards at your waist as you breathe in deeply, pause, and come back up as you exhale.
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Hold left elbow with your right hand, gently pull elbow behind your head until you feel an easy stretch in your shoulder. Then switch arms.
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Perform the elbow pull, and then gently lean sideways from your hips to stretch your sides. Then switch sides and repeat.
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Interlace your fingers from both hands, raise your arms above your head with palms facing up and push your arms up to the sky.
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Keeping your hips straight ahead in the chair, turn your upper body to the right and then to the left while looking over your shoulder each way.
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Pull elbow gently across chest toward opposite shoulder until you feel a comfortable stretch. Then switch arms and repeat.
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Pull top of shoulders up towards ears, hold for 5-8 seconds, relax shoulders down and repeat.
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Bend forward in chair (may be done with a pillow in the lap), and hold for 30 seconds in a comfortable position. Put your hands on your thighs and push upper body to sit back up.