Are You Flexible?
What is flexibility? Essentially, flexibility is the ability to perform pain-free movement around the joints with the help of muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, together with the joints. What is stretching? The appropriate definition would be: a type of movement or exercise done to achieve increased flexibility for general well-being, sports-specific reasons or rehabilitation purpose. While being flexible is highly beneficial in general fitness, being hyper-flexible can cause you physical damage. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate a safe stretching routine with proper stretching techniques. Finally, prior to begin any flexibility program, it is wise to have a flexibility assessment done by a trained professional. The major benefits to any flexibility program and subsequent results will include: 1. Increased movement around a joint 2. Injury prevention and treatment 3. Increased co-ordination 4. Improved circulation 5. Decreased soreness due to other activity Types of stretches are either 1) static (slow / without movement, sustained) or 2) passive (static with the assistance of another person). Even though this article focuses primarily on static stretching which is safe and effective for the...
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