SAVING OUR JOINTS
Our range of motion how far we can move a joint in various directions is determined by many things, starting with the inner workings of the joints involved. Also important is the amount of tension in the muscles surrounding the joint, which can be affected by scarring or our habitual posture (passive factors), or by involuntary muscle spasms or purposeful muscle contractions (active factors).
Stretching exercises can help extend our range of motion. To understand how, it helps to know what joints, tendons, and ligaments do: