How important is flexibility?

ARE you ‘toit’ like a tiger, in all the wrong ways? Haven’t been able to touch your toes in years? Tim Robards explains whether flexibility really matters to fitness.

TIGHT, ‘toit’ like a tiger … This is how the infamous Goldmember (Austin Powers) describes his ideal female counterpart. There is something inherently appealing to many of us about a toned or ‘toit’ body.

But is the ‘toit’ element being overlooked? Do we leave stretching to the lanky, bendy, yogi extremists or is there something in this for all of us? Why dedicate 20 mins of your day to something you may not see immediate results with?

I ask the same question to those of us that brush our teeth and get regular dental check-ups. Below I will highlight six benefits of stretching just to name a few and how they affect your physiology.

Designer Betsey Johnson knows a thing or two about flexibility. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

6 benefits of stretching

1. Improve your posture

Most of us now have sedentary jobs and spend most of our day sitting. Our muscles and ligaments shorten and this effects our structure. Our body can no longer enjoy the freedom of finding its ideal posture to work efficiently adapting to the environment we put it in.

There's nothing more appealing than someone who walks into the room, with confident posture, a powerful presence and commanding attention.

2. Reduce lower back pain

Less tension, fixation and tugging of tight muscles on the spine may mean less back pain. We all know you need to keep your back straight when picking something up but if you don’t have the flexibility in your hips to get down there, your back is the area that gives out first.

Back pain kills your mojo. Not just because of the pain but because this nerve irritation can effect how well your brain communicates with the organs in your body. No longer are you jumping out of bed at the start of the day with a spring in your step and then jumping back into bed at the end of your night with a spring in something else …

3. Decrease risk of injury

When you stretch regularly you remind your brain of the correct length your muscles should be when exercising. This is super important to avoid muscle tears and strains.

4. Exercise for longer

By maintaining improved muscle length we operate more efficiently. Less imbalances means less wear and tear which means you potentially get more years out of your body. Just like you do maintaining your car.

5. Increase blood flow and nutrients to soft tissue

When we are inactive our blood pools in our muscles kind of like a bottle neck on the freeway. Without movement there's not a lot helping to flush our muscles and allow new blood and nourishment to get to them, especially in the extremities. Better blood flow means there's less toxins building up and your skin and other organs are better nourished.

6. Improved mind/body connection

Most of us operate during the day in a fairly high level of our stress response. Normally this is just reserved for when we need to fight or flight. Too many of us are having to operate at this level of stress day in and day out. Stretching may help to bring you out of your daily stress response and more into your parasympathetic dominance which promotes growth and healing.

Your body needs movement to thrive in its environment. Make some time to stretch … and your body and those around you will love you for it!

Tim Robards.

Dr Tim Robards is a Chiropractor and exercise scientist (B. Med. Sc, M. Chiro) and regular news.com.au columnist. His observations and research into what people really need to live a healthy life and thrive in their environment has lead him to develop The Robards Method. You can follow Tim on Instagram and Twitter.