Flexibility Requirements

To improve flexibility one must do range of motion and stretching activities daily. Regular, gentle movement or stretching is essential for loosening stiff joints or movements. Once you have reached your flexibility goal, a maintenance program usually requires less frequency, although you probably ought to keep your flexibility program at the same level. Some muscles, such as the hamstrings, tend to tighten more easily and always need regular stretching. Tight muscles increase your feeling of stiffness and can alter the way that you move, putting unwanted stress on your joints. I have found that stretching for a few minutes a day greatly reduces stiffness in my legs and helps alleviate my low back pain.