HEALTHY LIVING
Improve
It Pays to Be Flexible
Stretching exercises are crucial to
long-term health. ::
QUAD STRETCH. Stand on one leg and gently reach back for the toe or ankle of the other leg and hold while keeping your knees together. Repeat on the other side. You can hold onto a wall if balance is challenging. This helps relieve tension in the quadricep muscles.
1 I BY LYNN ALLISON
f you can touch your toes, this could mean you will live a long, healthy life. A new study concludes
that flexibility adds years to your life independent of other forms of exercise. Brazilian researchers analyzed
data for 13 years on more than 3,000 men and women, ages 46 to 65, and found that participants who scored best on a flexibility test of 20 body joint movements had better survival rates for any non-COVID-19 illness. The study, published in the
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, also found that
women with lower flexibility scores had a 4.78 times increased risk of dying, while inflexible men had 1.87 times the risk of dying, compared to their more flexible counterparts. Flexibility refers to the range of
motion of muscles and connective tissues at a joint or group of joints. Just as physical movement has
been repeatedly linked to good health, scientists have determined that flexibility plays an important role in maintaining body integrity and long-term health. Previous studies have linked
flexibility to better cardiovascular health. A 2020 study found that after 12
It’s what allows us to do everyday activities like carrying groceries, climbing stairs, and playing with our grandkids.”
— Denise Austin 86 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | DECEMBER 2024
weeks of stretching, participants experienced improved blood flow and heart health. The study also concluded that stretching decreased the risk for heart attack and stroke. Stretching also increases
mobility and promotes better balance.
“Flexibility is very important
for coordination and helps with the ability to move around freely without restrictions,” explains Brad Walker, founder of StretchCoach. com. Walker, a leading authority
FIGURE FOUR. Hold on to the back of a chair and cross one leg over the other thigh. Squat gently until you feel the stretch in your hips. Repeat with opposite leg. This is wonderful for tight hips or sciatica.
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RUNNER’S LUNGE. Lunge forward with your right leg, put your left hand on the ground and your right arm in the air. You can use a block under your left hand to help support the lunge. Repeat on the other side. This classic stretch opens the front of the legs, hamstrings, and glutes.
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on safe and effective stretching, adds that maintaining flexibility, especially as we get older, helps prevent falls, accidents, and other minor muscle injuries like strains and sprains. Denise Austin, a renowned
fitness icon for over 40 years, says that adding simple stretches to your daily routine does improve balance
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