
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
-
`
The Miraculous Effects Water Has On Our Skin, Overall Health & Fitness
Our skin is neither a plant nor a tree, but it needs as much water as plants and trees do. Many people...
April 26, 2025 -
`
This New Research Discovery Could Lead to Improved Treatments for Obesity!
According to the recent study conducted by the researchers from the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute, the new fat cell...
April 26, 2025 -
`
How to Convince Your Boss to Give You a Flexible Working Arrangement?
Tired of working from 9 am to 5 pm every day? Want to experience the convenience of working within the comforts...
April 26, 2025 -
`
Experts Predict The Year 2019 Will Be the Golden Age of Electric Luxury Cars
The year 2018 may have been challenging for top SUV and electric car manufacturers especially since some giant brands were plunged...
April 24, 2025 -
`
If You Aren’t Following These Natural Weight Loss Techniques – You’re Doing It Wrong
Getting into the right shape comes easier to some and becomes a struggle for most. People will go the distance to...
April 24, 2025 -
`
Here Are The Things You Need to Do To Help a Depressed Person
Are you depressed? Or do you have someone you know, perhaps family, friends, or relatives who are depressed? Perhaps you tried...
April 24, 2025 -
`
Stop Following These Wrong Fitness Tips Right Now
Being in the health and fitness industry is mostly overwhelming in the sense where you get mixed advice from different coaches....
April 24, 2025 -
`
Dry Skin Care- From dry to silky smooth
Dry Skin Care – Tips to Improve Your Dry Skin drу ѕkin care muѕt bе реrfоrmеd on a dаilу bаѕiѕ. Prореr...
April 24, 2025 -
`
Experts Give these Effective Meditation Tips for First Timers!
One of the most efficient methods of harnessing your mental health is through meditation. We’ve heard the astounding benefits you get...
April 24, 2025
You must be logged in to post a comment Login