Dear Stiff Steve...

Dear Stiff Steve,

I’m so sorry for making fun about your flexibility. I used to say that you were as stiff as a board or as limber as a dry noodle. I’m here to apologize because flexibility is no joking matter. The ability to bend your body is really important and is one of the major factors in preventing injury and chronic pain. Good flexibility means that you can squat down with ease to tie your shoes and pick things off the ground without herniating a disk. Good flexibility means that you can reach into the back seat of your car to grab your bag without straining your shoulder.

Flexibility is defined as the ability to move a joint through its full range of motion. Without full range of motion, your body will find motion from another area, this is called compensation. Over time, these compensations stress areas of the body that is not meant to move that way and the result is often times chronic pain.

There’s no catch all way to stretch as it depends on the individual but a really good way to get started is yoga. Yoga goes back thousands of years with Hindu and Buddhist roots. In the west, it’s a practice of physical poses and energy control. Many poses puts the body into its full range of motion, requiring mental and physical strength, stamina, and flexibility. For a more customized stretching routine, contact a Personal Trainer, Strength Coach, or Physical Therapist in your area. Good luck!

To your health,

Kim