A team of kinesiology professors at Cal State Northridge has developed a series of very simple stretching exercises to help ensure that as we grow up, and older, the quality of our lives does not necessarily have to suffer.

"Research has demonstrated the value of exercise for enhancing not only the quantity of years a person may live, but also the quality of those years," said kinesiology professor Steven Loy. "Often overlooked when one thinks about exercise is stretching. Stretching to maintain and improve flexibility is important, whether you are a gymnast or an older individual seeking to prevent a disastrous fall."

Loy said study after study has demonstrated that the potential benefits accrued from simply stretching regularly include muscle relaxation, injury prevention, relief of muscle cramps and soreness, postural alignment and body symmetry, reduction of psychological stress, and for yoga disciples, union of the mind, body and spirit.

"For all of these potential benefits, the question remains 'Why doesn¹t everyone stretch every day?'" Loy said. "We suggest that it's because stretching is not part of people's daily routines. We've come up with a series of stretches that people can do every day, whether you are at work or at home."

The stretches, available for downloading from the Web site http://www.csun.edu/~bby44411/CSUNStretch.html, from the muscles in the neck to the calves.

(Note: To access the stretching exercises, you must have Acrobat reader, which you can access from the same Web address http://www.csun.edu/~bby44411/CSUNStretch.html. In the event that you are unable to access the exercises within 15 minutes, e-mail Steven Loy at steven.loy@csun.edu,

Loy said while he and his colleagues recommend that the stretches be held for 30 seconds each, "you may receive equal benefit by breaking the time up throughout the day."

Kinesiology professor Shane Stecyk said the stretches are so easy "you can work it in while you¹re watching television, reading or talking on the phone."

"It's the perfect way to make your TV time productive," Stecyk said. Kinesiology professor Bill Whiting said, "One of the more enjoyable aspects of stretching, when done properly, is that it just feels good."

Loy said the stretches can be done by anyone, whether you spend most of your day chained to your desk with little exercise or you are someone who's physically active.

"As with any exercise program," Loy said, " see a physician before beginning and share the activities with him or her. Always begin at a very low intensity. There is no need for pain in order to have gain."

California State University, Northridge has more than 31,500 full- and part-time students and offers 61 bachelor's and 42 master's degrees as well as 28 education credential programs. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley and the fourth largest in the 23-campus CSU system. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges recently said CSUN "stands as a model to other public urban institutions of higher education."