CAN you touch your toes or do you find your fingers reach only as far as your knees? Flexibility declines sharply with age and the natural suppleness of youth will quickly disappear if efforts aren’t made to preserve it. The effects can be profound — as we move less freely, the risk of injury rises and our posture deteriorates.

A 2013 study from the University of Western Ontario showed that the average drop in the flexibility of hip and shoulder joints to be about six degrees each decade from a person’s mid-50 onwards. And the outcome can be limiting — the less flexible we are, the worse our posture and the more inhibited our movement patterns. Breathing, digestion and stress levels can all worsen when we become stiff and inflexible.

Suzanne Wylde, the author of Moving Stretch (Lotus) says the longer you ignore it, the worse things get. “When we are tight it puts more wear and tear on our joints,” says Wylde. “And declining flexibility is compounded by inactivity because as we move less, we develop more tightness and restriction — causing more aches and pains.”

Reference: https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/lifestyle/at-full-stretch-how-to-stay-flexible-through-the-years-976371.html