The Benefits Of Flexibility

Flexibility is a very important factor in any fitness journey that is often neglected – even among those who regularly work out.

Flexibility is the ability of one joint, or multiple joints, to move through an unrestricted and pain-free range of motion. Range of motion is different for everyone, but it is influenced by the mobility of the soft tissues that surround the joints. These soft tissues include muscles, ligaments, tendons, joint capsules, and skin.

Can Prevent Injuries

Developing better strength and flexibility in your body means that you will be able to handle more physical stress, while also ridding your body of any muscle imbalances, which can therefore reduce your risk of getting injured during physical activity. Correcting muscle imbalances can require a healthy mix of strengthening your underactive muscles, and stretching your tight/overactive muscles.

Can Improve Posture & Balance

Once you start focusing on improving and increasing your muscular flexibility, your posture will also begin to improve. When you start working out and stretching correctly, your body will correct your alignment while also correcting any imbalances. On top of this, when your range of motion is increased, you will start to find it easier to sit or stand in certain ways.

A great way to improve posture and balance with stretching is by doing yoga.

Improved Strength

As you become more flexible, it is important to also increase and improve your strength. This will help to ensure your muscles will have the right amount of tension so that they can remain strong enough to support your movements, which allows you to become more physically fit.

Strength is increased when you contract your muscles in functional bodyweight workouts or weight lifting. This exercise can help your muscles keep the right amount of tension so they can stay strong enough to support your movements, this, in turn, allows you to become more physically fit.

Improved Performance

Flexibility can not only lead to improved strength but can also lead to improved sports performance. When combined with proper muscle control and stability, an increase in flexibility can allow an athlete to achieve their best postural positions needed for specific sports and tasks.

For example, a golfer with greater flexibility will be better able to achieve a bigger backswing, resulting in a more powerful swing and better allover performance.

Less Aches & Pains

Once you start to work on opening and lengthening your muscles your body will begin to feel better overall. When your muscles are loosened and less tight and tense, you will experience fewer aches and pains, you are also less likely to experience muscle cramps.

Increased Mobility

It is important to note that everyone will have a varying degree of mobility, and generally speaking, the more flexible your muscles are, the greater your mobility will be. Simply put, you cannot be mobile unless your muscles are flexible, and flexible muscles can make everyday movements more comfortable as your joints are moving in proper sequence.

Mobility makes everything easier, for example, hiking, HIIT classes, spin classes, or even just reaching the top and bottom cabinets without discomfort.

Ease Lower Back Pain

There have been some studies that have connected flexibility with reduced pain – specifically lower back pain. In a 2016 review in healthcare, a great way to reduce stiffness and lower back pain is by stretching and increasing flexibility in the hip flexors muscles, hamstrings, and the erector spinae and latissimus dorsi muscles in the back.

Encourages Positivity

If the above didn’t convince you of the importance of flexibility and mobility, then we’ve got one more for you – regularly engaging in poses that stretch and open your body can encourage feelings of relaxation, leading to a relaxed state of mind.