Whether you can or not, it feels like a sign of fitness to be able to reach down and touch your toes.
But how important is flexibility when it comes to your physical fitness? Is it a necessary part of healthy ageing?
Norman and Tegan stretch through the evidence on flexibility – when does it count, and how can you achieve it?
References:
- Genetics of Muscle Stiffness, Muscle Elasticity and Explosive Strength
- Genetic associations of body composition, flexibility and injury risk with ACE, ACTN3 and COL5A1 polymorphisms in Korean ballerinas
- Whole-spine dynamic magnetic resonance study of contortionists: anatomy and pathology
- Practical recommendations on stretching exercise: A Delphi consensus statement of international research experts
- The ideal stretching routine – Harvard Health
- How stretching actually changes your muscles - Malachy McHugh for Ted-Ed
If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!
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- What on earth is grounding?!
- Can you zap yourself buff with electrical muscle stimulation?
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