# Why do we stretch?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stretch/168271>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 12, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stretch/168271 "2003-04-12T16:09:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tonbo0422](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@tonbo0422](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonbo0422)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stretch/168271/1 "2003-04-12T16:09:25Z")

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And other animals (notably cats) besides.

I just had the overwhelming urge to roll on my bed and stretch seemingly every muscle of my body (which I did.)

I know this must be a reflex action, like taking a breath after breathing too shallowly, but what is the physiological background here?

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**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stretch/168271/2 "2003-04-12T16:18:25Z")

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I think its somehow tied to relieving muscle cramping. People stretch when they climb out of bed, exit a movie theater, finsih a long drive, etc.

I think animals sometimes stretch as part of their body language. I know for cats and dogs, it seems to be a fairly universal ‘hello I missed you!’