Increased Flexibility and Joint Range of Motion Flexible muscles improve your everyday function as well as athletic performance. Tasks such as lifting packages, bending to tie your shoes, or hurrying to catch a bus become easier and less tiring when you have a good range of motion in your joints. Flexibility tends to diminish as you get older, but you can regain and maintain it with regular stretching exercises. Improved Circulation Stretching increases circulation (blood flow) to your muscles. Blood flowing to your muscles brings nourishment and gets rid of waste byproducts in the muscle tissue. Improved circulation can help shorten your recovery time if you've had any muscle injuries. Better Posture: Frequent stretching can help keep your muscles from getting tight, allowing you to maintain proper posture. Good posture can minimize discomfort and keep aches and pains at a minimum. Stretching right after exercise doesn't seem to prevent delayed-onset muscle soreness, but regular stretching in the days after a tough workout can reduce muscle stiffness, joint stiffness, too, is alleviated by regular flexibility exercises to improve range of motion.