What Are the Benefits of Good Flexibility?

Good flexibility is a cornerstone of good health and athletic performance. When we are born, we have incredible range of motion and flexibility. However, as adults many of us have lost this, particularly those of us who sit a lot every day. Our Agilis helps you reverse the negative effects of sitting, allows you to become more flexible while you sit, and ultimately allows you to unlock your athletic potential. However, if you don’t have your hands on our Agilis here’s a great article by Sharon Therien that looks at the benefits of good flexibility…

Flexibility is an aspect of health that many people neglect, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. However, flexibility is important because tight muscles can create problems throughout your body. To improve your flexibility, the ACSM recommends stretching every day. You can adjust your routine to stretching at least twice a week after you have gained more flexibility.

Less Back Pain

Tight muscles in the back and lower body can cause back pain, and improving your flexibility can help prevent and treat that pain. “Yoga Journal” explains that when the hamstrings are tight, they pull the pelvis down and create more pressure for the lower back. Plus, there is less stress on the spine when the hip flexors and pelvic muscles are flexible. Flexibility can also ease tension and soreness in muscles to relieve pain in the back and other areas of the body.

Increased Range of Motion

If your muscles are tight, they can cause a reduced range of motion throughout your body. This can give you trouble with everyday activities such as reaching overhead to take a dish out of the cupboard. Becoming more flexible can make these types of activities, as well as exercising, easier. It improves the range of motion throughout the body to help the body move more easily.

Injury Prevention

You are more prone to injury of the muscles, as well as tendons and ligaments, if you are not flexible, explains “Yoga Journal.” The tendons around the muscles stiffen when you do not stretch and keep them flexible. Having tight muscles gives you a reduced range of motion, so it is easier to go past that range of motion and injure yourself. Likewise, if you improve your flexibility, you increase your range of motion and lower your risk of an injury to the muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Improved Circulation

Tension in the muscles affects circulation, which can prevent nutrients and oxygen from properly moving through the body. When the muscles are more flexible, they relax and create improved circulation. The act of stretching also encourages circulation by helping blood move to the muscles and joints.

Less Stress and Better Posture

Flexibility can improve your posture because tight muscles affect your spine’s alignment. Flexible muscles also have less tension, so you can feel less stress than you would with a tight and tense body, according to the American Council on Exercise .