
What You Need To Know About Flexibility

Ever wanted to do handstands or poses like a yogi? The start could be simple stretches!
According to Bryant Walrod, MD, a family and sports medicine physician at the Ohio State University – Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, flexibility is the amount of stretch that a muscle allows. By design, our muscles contract allowing us to move or carry objects.
Flexibility Is A Crucial Element Of Exercise
If a muscle doesn’t have the ability to sufficiently relax and stretch, your body’s biomechanics change leading to strain or stress and limited mobility in the end. Curtailed mobility from tight muscles is said to reduce one’s ability to perform even simple daily tasks and exercises. Everything becomes a hustle that increases the risk of muscles straining and tearing.
Improving Flexibility: The Different Types Of Stretches
Ensure your muscles stretch regularly for them to retain the ability to relax and extend no matter your age by intentionally doing movements that stretch them for five minutes, three to five days a week. Here are some types of stretches you can incorporate:
Static Stretching
Here you mostly move to a joint’s end range of motion and then hold that position for 15, 30, or 60 seconds. Ensure you have warmed up or exercised first before static stretching.
Dynamic Stretching
These stretches such as leg swings gently move your joints through their full range of motion, increasing blood flow to the body’s muscles and are ideal before workouts.
Myofascial Release (Foam Rolling)
Here muscles’ connective tissues are applied with pressure to help them relax.
Ballistic Stretching
Entails performing a static stretch and then “bouncing” at the end range of motion.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
This targets a muscle’s neurological system where your partner applies force and you work the muscles.
Is Strength Training The Answer?
Strength training twice a week and performing eccentric exercises that lengthen muscles has been shown to improve flexibility. Ensure to perform each exercise through its full range of motion. For example, in a pushup, lower your body as far toward the floor as you can instead of cutting the exercise short. Remember, if inflexibility persists it is advisable to seek professional evaluation from a certified trainer or physical therapist.
The takeaway is that flexibility is one of the key factors in our mobility and total-body function, so get moving!
More in Health & Well-Being
-
`
Stop Committing These Mistakes When You Use Essential Oils
We all know how essential oils have therapeutic benefits not only in treating our colds, headaches, and wounds but also in...
August 2, 2025 -
`
If You Are Failing To Deal With ADD/ADHD – Do What THEY Did To Improve Your Mental Health
ADHD mеdiсаtiоnѕ can hеlр mаnаgе ѕуmрtоmѕ likе diѕtrасtedness. But many реорlе аugmеnt their prescriptions with these nаturаl rеmеdiеѕ, dеѕignеd tо hеlр...
August 2, 2025 -
`
Here’s How You Can Maintain a Healthy Diet While Working From Home
Did you know that World Health Day is celebrated every 7th of April? Some people don’t even know that such a day exists!...
August 2, 2025 -
`
Signs That You Need To Change Your Gym
Experts have highlighted different signs that could suggest the need to change gyms. These signs vary from a dirty environment to excessive pricing and even unsuitable...
August 2, 2025 -
`
Grab These Best Essential Oils to Ease Your Anxiety and Stress!
Most people experience anxiety and stress, pain, and even insomnia due to our hectic schedules in work and personal life. While...
July 31, 2025 -
`
Tackling Isolation When You Can’t Go Outside
The world is fighting the deadly Coronavirus pandemic. Therefore the news and social media are focused on COVID-19, its effects, and...
July 31, 2025 -
`
How Can You Cope Up With Chronic Pain?
Due to the unhealthy foods we eat and the sedentary lifestyle we have nowadays, it’s no wonder that we’re starting to...
July 31, 2025 -
`
Is the Concept of BMI Flawed?
BMI was invented because of the need to review the risk factors of obesity and the state of being overweight. The...
July 31, 2025 -
`
Experts Reveal the Truth Behind Benji Madden and Cameron Diaz’s Bizarre Marriage
While most of our favorite celebrity couples in the industry make a buzz on the internet with their whirlwind romances, some...
July 31, 2025
You must be logged in to post a comment Login