Whether you're doing hard physical labor outdoors all day, or hunching over a computer screen at your desk job, muscle aches are a fact of life. These minor pains can be a real annoyance during the work week, but if you're in a survival situation, pulled muscles and reduced mobility may have devastating effects. Shin splints can slow your movement, a tense neck can limit your visibility, and a tweaked back can cripple you completely.

Even simple head movements can be used effectively to reduce muscle pain, as shown in the Strength Camp video below.

In order to avoid these muscular issues, it's important to exercise regularly—we've showed you how in past articles. However, it's equally important to maintain those muscles between workouts through stretching. Proper stretching can keep you flexible and improve blood flow to your extremities, leaving you ready to move at a moment's notice if SHTF. It'll also help alleviate nagging aches that may plague you on a daily basis.

Here's a helpful infographic from MichaelGeorge.com that provides 25 different exercises to keep your muscles working smoothly.

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In addition to these exercises, be sure to place extra emphasis on stretching your neck and upper back. Try to go through even the most mundane activity without turning or tilting your head, and you'll understand why a locked up neck muscle can be catastrophic. The video below from Strength Camp on YouTube shows four critical stretches for these key muscles:

Obviously, not all of these exercises are necessary to memorize, but adding a few to your daily routine can help you be better prepared for whatever comes your way.

Written by Patrick McCarthy