Flexibility Correlates with Longevity, according to New Research Findings
Keeping active and flexible might just be the key to a longer life! Recent research reveals that staying flexible could have a profound impact on our lifespan. In a study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, researchers discovered a connection between longevity and flexibility.
Typically, flexibility has been a vital component of exercise recommendations for people of all ages and fitness levels. However, little research has been conducted to explore how flexibility specifically affects our lifespan. To fill this gap, scientists analyzed data from over 3,000 participants enrolled in a multi-decade project in Brazil, the CLINIMEX Exercise open cohort. These individuals underwent extensive evaluations of their health and physical fitness, including flexibility tests. The project continued to follow their health over time, including their life expectancy.
Based on results from tests that measured people's range of motion involving seven joints, the researchers calculated a body flexibility score, which they named "Flexindex." They found that people with a higher Flexindex were less likely to die during the study period than those with lower flexibility scores.
Interestingly, women were found to be more flexible than men, and there were distinct differences in flexibility-related longevity between the two genders. After accounting for factors like body mass index and age, less flexible men were nearly twice as likely to die than highly flexible men, while less flexible women were almost five times as likely to die than highly flexible women.
The researchers concluded that flexibility is an essential component of health-related physical fitness. While the study can only show a correlation between being flexible and a longer lifespan, numerous other studies have demonstrated that exercise, in general, can prolong and enhance the quality of our later years.
The researchers suggest that we should investigate whether it's valuable to routinely assess people's flexibility as part of a regular check-up. They also argue that we should explore whether stretching-related exercises, like yoga, can help older people stay healthier and live longer.
So, make sure to stretch those muscles and maintain that flexibility for a healthier, longer life!
- In the future, technology could be integrated to measure individuals' flexibility scores, such as the Flexindex, during routine health checks.
- The findings from the CLINIMEX Exercise open cohort study in Brazil suggest that science should pay more attention to the relationship between health, flexibility, and lifespan, especially in the context of different genders.
- The research highlights the importance of flexibility in maintaining overall health, not just in physical fitness, but also in extending our lifespan.
- Flexibility's role in health-related fitness is crucial, and integrating science, technology, and wellness practices, like yoga, could help society in Brazil and beyond improve both lifespan and health quality.
