Do You Move Well?
A healthy body is a flexible body, but stretching may not get you there.
As you get older, you may find that your flexibility isn’t what it used to be. Suddenly, sitting on the floor, squatting or tying your shoes takes effort — and maybe a grunt.
Does this mean you need to stretch more?
I’m a big fan of stretching. Stretching feels good — even more so as I age. But it’s not that way for everyone. And stretching what feels tight is not always an effective way to gain flexibility.
A muscle may feel tight without actually being shortened. What benefit is there to stretch just for stretching’s sake?
The tasks listed above require flexibility. But they also require joint mobility and motor control. If you have limited mobility in your hips, pelvis and/or back, stretching your hamstrings will do little to nothing to help you touch your toes.
In order to execute functional tasks like squatting and reaching the floor, you need a balance of mobility, flexibility and motor control — not just one of these things. Aging impacts them all.
Mobility and flexibility are not the same things.
Mobility is a joint’s ability to move through its full range of motion. Anyone…
