Redefining Flexibility

Traditionally, the term flexibility has been associated with having good range of motion in the body, or more bluntly, being able to tie oneself into a pretzel. This idea of flexibility does not account for the ever increasing population of Americans who can touch their toes but still have terrible back, hip, or knee pain.

So, if being flexible does not have anything to do with being able to do the splits, then what does it have to do with? The secret of flexibility training has everything to do with Posture and Strength!

Why Posture? Because flexibility is a function of attaining a muscle’s range of motion without substitution in movement. It takes proper posture to create movement that occurs without compromising the structural integrity of the body in any fashion.

Why Strength? Because the strength of the muscles is what holds the skeleton in proper position and alignment. If a muscle becomes too weak it will allow the bones to fall out of position, if a muscle becomes too strong/tight it will pull the bones out of position. Therefore having the proper balance of strength in the body is what gives a person “true” range of motion.