Hi! Let's talk about the concept of flexibility.
We are going to use this space to share our knowledge about stretching with you.
Flexibility is the ability to achieve maximum range of motion. It is associated with a particular joint. You can't be flexible everywhere. But the good news is that you can't be inflexible everywhere either :) For example, there is a person who easily connects his hands to the lock behind his back, but cannot split. The second person does the split, but cannot take his hands behind his back. Which one is more flexible?
Second example. There is a person who sits in the lotus position without any difficulty. But at the same time if he just sits on the floor and stretches his legs out, his back becomes rounded. And the other person, on the other side, sits on the floor, stretches his legs forward and can even lean forward. But at the same time, the lotus position is not achievable to him. We cannot assess who of is more flexible.
Therefore, when clients come to us and say - I'm not flexible at all, nothing bends with me. We are always testing it. And for sure, in certain directions of the joints, they have more than enough flexibility, while in others - improvement is needed.
Flexibility and ROM
Many times people confuse flexibility with range of motion. Range of motion (ROM) is the movement of a joint without pain in all directions possible. Flexibility, on the other hand, is the ability for the muscles, ligaments, and tendons to elongate through the ROM. Improving your range of motion through flexibility exercises helps decrease your risk of injuries and avoid tightness and soreness around your joints. Plus, having proper range of motion can impact your other workouts and activities. For instance, you are more likely to use proper form and activate your muscles.
Poor flexibility can impact your health and well-being in several ways. For instance, you may experience muscle fatigue, stress on your muscles, and poor joint health. Increasing your flexibility helps you avoid these problems and reap a variety of benefits.
Here are some potential benefits of flexibility. Stretching increases the blood flow to your muscles. This improved circulation nourishes your muscles and helps to get rid of waste byproducts. Flexibility reduces your risk of injury and reduce back pain and stiffness. A systematic review suggests that aerobic exercise increases blood flow to soft tissues and muscle in the back, while flexibility improves the range of movement for muscles, ligaments, and tendons. When muscles and the surrounding structures are well-nourished and mobile, there is less likelihood that injury will occur.
Improve your Flexibility
The way to improve flexibility is through consistent stretching exercises. Not only should you stretch as part of a regular workout routine but you should also stretch after you exercise. Even stretching after sitting in your office chair for an extended period of time is important.
At Stretch Base we have scattered our classes through the timetable widely throughout the day for you to find those 50-55 min and quickly pop in and stretch it out.
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