The physiology of flexibility is the science of how and why some people are more flexible than others. Is it purely genetic or are there other factors involved? Let's look at some other important factors that determine your flexibility.
Youth and age
Aging is an important factor in limiting natural flexibility. As you get older, muscles and joints inevitably become stiffer and tighter. However, it has not been determined whether this is due to genetics or lifestyle choices. Having a very sedentary lifestyle accelerates the process of losing natural flexibility. On the other hand, staying active, exercising and simply exercising a lot more than usual will help you stay more flexible and you will thank yourself as you get older.
Education history
Your training and activity history has a big impact on your flexibility. If you spend most of your time in an office job or similar occupations that require sitting for long periods of time, your flexibility will gradually decrease.
Habits and choices throughout our lives shape us far more than our natural abilities.
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Gender also plays a role in flexibility, and in general, women are naturally more flexible than men. Women have the advantage in flexibility, partly by nature and partly by nurture. Women also have a more flexible body due to the composition of their connective tissue and also tend to perform activities that focus more on flexibility than brute strength. Activities such as dance and yoga.
Genetic
Unfortunately, this is where you get the card you were dealt. Some people are just more flexible than others, and there's nothing you can do about that. For the vast majority of people, genetic variations will not affect them as much as their habits over the course of their lives.
Even if you're naturally stiff or not as flexible as some of your peers, 10-15 minutes of stretching a day will make a world of difference.
Level of muscle tension
In summary, a tight muscle is a short muscle. Most stretches are designed to relax your muscles before lengthening them. The muscles don't actually lengthen; their cells simply stop contracting.
Everyone has different degrees of flexibility. Remember to pace yourself when trying to improve your flexibility. Check out our blog on tips for repairing a torn MCL or ACL.
