Many atheletes and bodybuilders often overlook a high quality stretching program. Many think its pointless or useless. The benefits of stretching have been documented for years and stretching has many added benefits for your health and well-being. here are several benefits of stretching, and stretching needs to be a part of your fitness program.    Here are some of the many benefits of stretching:   You receive an Increase of flexibility:   Flexibility is the degree to which an individual muscle will lengthen. When an individual lacks flexibility, it causes movements of the body to be slower and less fluid. This can result in muscle strains and pulls. Stretching exercises are the quickest and most effective method to increase flexibility.   Your body’s circulation will increase:   It has been shown that stretching increases the  blood flow to the muscles. The increased blood flow enables more nourishment to the muscles and also discards more waste byproducts away from the muscles. Increased blood flow can also help speed up recovery from muscle and joint injuries.   Your balance and coordination will increase:   With an increase in flexibility,Balance and Coordination also improve. This will lower your risk for falls and slips.   Can help with back pain’s and leg pain’s:   Stiff and tight muscles in the lower back, hamstrings, hips and buttocks is one of the more common causes of lower back pain. Stretching these large muscles  groups will assist in alleviating your pain.   Lastly, there is a Cardiovascular benefit.   Recent studies have found that stretching improves artery blood flow.   So remember when your about to head out of the gym….STRETCH… the benefits outweigh the five minutes lost by heading home early.