Flex-i-bil-i-ty: 1: Capable of being bent repeatedly without injury or damage. 2: responsive to change; adaptable.
Flexibility can best be described as the range of motion available around a specific joint. It is dependent of the characteristics of the muscles, tendons, joint capsules and fascial structures around the joint. Normal flexibility allows you to move all your joints safely and smoothly through a full range of motion. Flexible muscles allow your joints to move smoothly and efficiently. Flexibility can also be described as the range of motion you have available to produce force around the joints, and to reduce forces. Flexibility has both static and active components. The static components involve the elasticity of the muscular tissue. The active component involves the neuromuscular control of the contracting muscle. Tight muscles can effect your static posture as well as your ability to move safely.
Maintaining adequate flexibility of all joints facilitates safe movement. At The Center for Functional Fitness we will make flexibility and stretching and integral part of your training program.
“Flexibility…is an important factor in the prevention of injuries and in efficient skill performance…flexibility must be accompanied by ligamentous and muscular stability surrounding an articulation…Adequate strength in extreme joint positions also is necessary to prevent joint structure damage from outside forces.”
Kreighbaum and Barthels
Functional flexibility requires an integration of strength, pliability, motor control, and movement awareness. We will use renowned Physical Therapist, Gary W. Gray’s approach to improving your functional flexibility by applying the following principles.
- Appreciate the muscles function as it relates to how our joints move.
- Precede stretching with a warm up.
- Consider the muscles structure and function in all three planes of motion.
- Orient the body in the most functional position possible for the particular muscle being stretched.
- Utilize gravity, ground reaction forces, and body weight as the stretching force.
- Statically stretch in one direction, while dynamically moving in one or both of the other major planes of motion.
