#Flexibility October 2
We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
For the month of October, I am participating in a 30-Day Sitting and Rising Coach4aday Challenge. My goal is to improve different aspects of fitness including FLEXIBILITY.
Some facts about aging are not pleasant to accept but as we get older, we lose range of motion with our joints. Scary stats include by age 70, 25%-30% of overall flexibility is usually lost (in an average population). Primary cause of this is rigidity of the tendons and ligaments around the joint.
The good news is that these changes can be slowed down dramatically. Physical activity in general slows down deterioration in FLEXIBILITY. That is the primary goal of this month Coach4aday Challenge.
Stretching
To improve range of motion in joints and become more flexible the key is adapting a regime of stretching. Those exercises will fall into three categories.
- Static
- Dynamic
- PNF or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
Static stretching is putting tension on a muscle to near its furthest point and then holding that position.
Dynamic stretching consists of active movements where joints and muscles go through a full range of motion.
PNF or Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation includes active and passive techniques and is performed under the guidance of an experienced trainer.
Benefits
Improved flexibility improves our balance which minimizes the risk from falls. It also can reduce the incidence of low back pain, a common affliction as we age.
Something you might not read but it will help a grandfather get down on the floor/ground and play with his granddaughter. That is a big motivator for me to improve my flexibility.
Recent Comments