The importance of being flexible!
Being flexible is vital for maintaining your ability to perform daily tasks and move with ease.
Being flexible can decrease the risk of injury and falls. Stretching your body to become more flexible offers a plethora of physical benefits. Stretching your muscles and joints leads to a greater joint range of motion, improved balance, and increased flexibility.
What is flexibility?
Flexibility is the ability of your muscles and other connective tissues to stretch temporarily.
Why being flexible is important.
Flexibility isn’t just about bending over and touching your toes. Being flexible means that your joints have more range of motion, and you can move more freely.
Simply put at its core, flexibility is important for everyday life.
Flexibility is needed to release muscle tension and soreness as well as to promote relaxation.
Inflexibility however causes the structures in and around your joints to tighten and shorten. These structures include:
- Tendons
- Ligaments
- Skin
- Muscles
- The joint capsule
Cartilage – the padding between bones in your joints – relies on the movement of the joints to get nutrients and to stay healthy. Decreased flexibility can limit joint movement, which means your cartilage loses fluid. Less “padding” between your bones can cause pain – particularly in your weight bearing joints like knees and hips!
Tight muscles can cause poor posture and can increase the risk of injury with movement.
Unfortunately, flexibility decreases with age, having an enormous impact on your ability to perform daily tasks and participate in all the activities you enjoy!
5 benefits of being flexible!
- Decreased Pain.
Your body is likely to feel better overall once you work on lengthening and opening your muscles. When your muscles are loose and less tense, you should experience fewer aches and pains, another plus is that you will be less likely to experience muscle cramps.
- Fewer Injuries.
Once your body feels strong and flexible you will be able to withstand more physical stress. It will also combat any muscle imbalances, which in turn will reduce the chance of getting an injury during physical activity!
- Improved Posture and Balance.
When your muscles and joints are more flexible, your posture is more than likely to improve. Strengthening and stretching your body allows you to have proper alignment and may correct any imbalances, and as an added bonus, with an increased range of motion you may find it easier to sit or stand in certain ways. Pilates and Yoga are great ways to achieve this!
- Being Stronger!
It is important to increase strength as you become more flexible. This ensures your muscles will have the right amount of tension so that they are strong enough to support you and your movements, allowing you to become more physically fit!
- A Cheerful Outlook!
Regularly engaging in poses that stretch and open up your body can bring about feelings of wellbeing and relaxation. The physical benefits can extend to a relaxed state of mind. It could lead to other positive things like getting more sleep as you may find it easier to unwind once your body feels better.
On a final note ……….
Being flexible is the ability to move your muscles and joints without restriction and flexibility exercises improve your overall range of motion. They can also decrease the risk of falls and injury during daily activities.
Stretches improve blood flow to your muscles and joints and increases the production of synovial fluid to keep the joints lubricated.
Taking steps to be more flexible is a wonderful way to connect yourself and your body. You are likely to feel more balanced and better overall once your body is more open, strong, and flexible.
However, a note of warning, be cautious about starting a stretching programme if you have a chronic condition or injury. If you have any health concerns speak to your Chiropractor to decide on the best approach for you.
If you would like some further information or to speak to a member of our team please call us on: Hitchin 01462 420077 or Luton 01582 579687, alternatively e-mail us at: hitchin@healesclinics.com or luton@healesclinics.com