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Stretching

By Anne Asher, About.com

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Definition: To stretch a muscle is to elongate it by moving its two ends away from one another.

Stretching is generally recommended by doctors, therapists and fitness professionals to help prevent injury and relieve chronic back pain.

While stretching is generally very beneficial, as with any activity doing too much can be damaging to the body.

Also Known As: flexibility

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