Benefits of Flexibility and Importance of Flexibility in Sports

Benefits of Flexibility and Importance of Flexibility in Sports

Increase the range of motion in a joint:

improves sports performance by decreasing the chance of injury and improving form. It also improves body awareness, especially proprioception how you sense your own body. Try using a foam roller to increase flexibility it is cheap and easy to use.

Just lie down on it and move back and forth over the target area for about 30 seconds to ease muscle tightness. You can use it on your hamstrings, quads, calves, glutes, and hip flexors.

Improve coordination:

flexibility is also necessary in order to perform any movement efficiently. As an example consider the act of running if you are very inflexible you will probably run with a lot of tension in your body, which over time could cause injury.

However, if you are flexible you will be able to move efficiently and perform any movement without wasting unnecessary energy or effort that could lead to injury, especially in the areas where the joints meet such as the hips.

Increased blood flow flexibility is necessary in order for your blood vessels to expand and contract as much as needed.

increase muscle recovery time flexibility is necessary in order for each muscle to elongate and return back to its normal resting state without any stiffness or tension. If you are inflexible, it takes much longer time your muscles to recover after a workout. This can make a big difference in your ability to return quickly to your everyday activities.

Increasing energy levels flexibility is important because when you are inflexible, your muscles have to work much harder to do simple movements such as walking. To compensate for this extra effort, your body starts using more energy thus making you feel tired sooner.

When it comes to helping the body function at its best, it’s obvious that all of the body’s systems have to be in good working order. One such system is the musculoskeletal system which comprises the skeletal muscles and bones.

When this system works at optimal efficiency, everything from day-to-day activities to high-level sports performance can benefit. And one of the most important factors in keeping this system working at its best is maintaining flexibility.

Maintaining Flexibility:

Unfortunately, it’s common for adults to lose flexibility as they get older. However, making sure that you are getting enough exercise that challenges your body’s range of motion can help keep you flexible even if you are over 30. Just like with any muscle in your body, exercising your muscles and joints can help them maintain their flexibility.

Getting enough exercise that challenges the range of motion in all of your major joints is important for maintaining flexibility especially as you get older. Your hips, shoulders, ankles, and wrists are some of the more important areas to focus on when trying to maintain flexibility. And, not surprisingly, these areas can be more prone to stiffness and discomfort as you age if they aren’t exercised on a regular basis.

There are several different exercises that will help keep your range of motion healthy. For example:

Walking:

While it’s often considered a simple activity, walking actually requires a lot of movement at the hips, ankles, and knees. It’s also one of the simplest ways to fit in daily exercise. Just make sure you are walking with good form to get the most out of it.

Lunges:

Lunges are a great way to strengthen your legs while also increasing flexibility in your hips and ankles. A basic lunge simply involves moving the leg you want to exercise out in front of your body, bending both knees until they are at a 90-degree angle, and then returning back to a standing position.

Swimming:

Swimming is a great way to get in a full-body workout while also increasing flexibility. It can be especially helpful for people who have trouble with other types of exercises due to physical limitations. To make swimming even more effective, try doing some dolphin kicks at the end of your stroke motion.

Yoga – Yoga is another great option for increasing flexibility because it focuses on slow, controlled movements which are less likely to cause injury. It can also be helpful in learning proper body alignment which is key for maintaining flexibility.

There are also certain types of stretching exercises that will help keep you flexible. One of the most important things to remember when doing any type of exercise or stretch is to make sure your movements are slow and controlled. This helps avoid injury and decreases the risk of triggering any type of muscle spasm which can tighten up your muscles.

One of the most effective types of stretches for increasing your flexibility is known as proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, or PNF for short. This particular type of stretch involves using a partner to apply resistance at certain points throughout the exercise which helps increase its effectiveness.

The basic outline involves stretching for about 10 seconds, relaxing for about five to eight seconds, and then having a partner apply resistance for another 10 seconds. The process should be repeated two or three times.

Mental benefits of flexibility:

1. decreased anxiety

2. increased confidence

3. better concentration and memory recall

4. improved workout performance and endurance

5. injury prevention of muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments & spine

6. increased energy levels throughout the day

7 . reduces the risk of chronic diseases

8 . reduced stress levels

9. less tiredness in the day

10. greater calm in mind

Benefits of flexibility in the Workplace:

1. increased productivity

2. greater team spirit, morale, and engagement

3. improved health & wellbeing of employees

4. faster problem solving / reaction time

5. increased creativity among employees

6 . reduced absenteeism / high turnover rates

7. lower healthcare costs to the company due to ergonomic seating & workstations

8. increase morale and creativity among employees

9. increased productivity of team members

increased profits for the company due to:

1. increased workforce effectiveness and engagement

2. reduced absenteeism / high turnover rates

3. improved morale & creativity in the workplace

4 . increased team spirit, morale & engagement

5. increase in productivity of team members

6. less tiredness among workforce (improved concentration & energy levels)

7 . faster problem solving / reaction times

8. reduced healthcare costs to the company due to ergonomic workstations

9. increased profits for the company due to higher workforce effectiveness and engagement

10. greater speed and accuracy of all employees

How to improve flexibility:

1. breathing exercises & meditation

2. conscious muscle relaxation

3 . yoga/pilates

4 . stretching after a workout (stretching immediately before workouts can be detrimental to performance)

5. dynamic stretches (before workouts ) / static stretches

6. drinking enough water during the day to stay hydrated (most important)

7. adequate protein intake

8. correct posture at all times

9. sleep & fasting in the day to improve muscle recovery and repair

10. stress management during the day to reduce anxiety levels, increase calmness of mind, and promote better sleep at night.

importance of flexibility in sports:

1. decreased risk of injury

2. increased speed and power due to improved ability to utilize a greater range of motion

3 . improved balance, agility, coordination, and timing

4. increased endurance due to increased lung capacity from better oxygen utilization

5. improved workout performance and output

6. decreased stress on muscles & joints

7. greater mental focus and concentration due to increased relaxation during training sessions

8. improved sports performance and output

9. less likely to get injured

10. greater speed and power in bouts and training sessions due to increased range of motion & flexibility.