News

Morning Stretch and Flex routine warms up workforce

  • Published
  • By Amanda Creel
  • 78 ABW/PA
Robins Air Force Base, GA --  Each morning a break area in the F-15 Wing Repair Flight transforms into an exercise haven for maintainers from the 572nd Commodities Maintenance Squadron.

Some of the maintainers don T-shirts stating their early morning mission to "Stretch and Flex." The 15-minute routine allows members of the flight to limber up before they begin their shift.

As members of the flight pile into the snack room at the beginning of the shift, participants push the tables to the center of the room and spread out in a loop.

Between 10 and 20 members of the flight participate in a wide variety of stretches and flexes designed to help reduce on-the-job strains each morning.

Zora Hubbard, a sheet-metal mechanic for the flight, said she began participating in the program more than a year ago and she has noticed a great reduction in aches and pains at the end of each duty day.

"It loosens you up and gets you off to a good start," she added. "I don't catch as many cramps and get as stiff as I use to."

Robert Martinez, another sheet metal mechanic for the flight said it not only keeps him limber on the job it helps him recover from his afternoon physical fitness time each day.

"I also take advantage of the three days a week of fitness time, so when I get up in the morning I am sore and stiff. It gives me a chance to stretch those muscles before work," Mr. Martinez said. "I try not to miss a day."

Patty Gilbert, also a sheet metal mechanic for the flight, said she just returned to the Stretch and Flex group and she is already suffering the consequences of her absence.

"I can tell I haven't been doing this. I am a little rusty," Ms. Gilbert said.

Ms. Gilbert said one of her favorite parts about participating each morning is getting to have some fun before heading off to turn wrenches and bang hammers.

The Stretch and Flex volunteer instructor, Guy Harrison, who is also a sheet metal mechanic for the flight said, "I am a firm believer that Stretch and Flex is a good tool to get you loose and ready for the work day."

He said he tries to vary the stretches a little each day, but that he always tries to ensure all the right areas are targeted such as the wrist and hands for those who suffer from carpal tunnel, the knees because they all do a lot of lifting and the neck and shoulders because of all the strange positions they have to get into to complete certain maintenance procedures.