Stretch Your Way to a Longer Life, Science Says!
Middle-aged adults Body flexibility
Research indicates that middle-aged adults with enhanced flexibility, quantified by the Flexindex, experience a lower risk of mortality.
This extensive study, which encompassed over 3,000 participants, demonstrated a strong correlation between superior flexibility and a marked reduction in death rates. The findings emphasize the critical role of incorporating flexibility exercises into regular fitness regimens as a potential means to prolong life expectancy.
Flexibility exercises are a staple in the training routines of both athletes and fitness enthusiasts. A groundbreaking study, published today (August 21) in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, reveals that flexibility levels may significantly influence survival rates among middle-aged individuals.
Flexindex: An Innovative Flexibility Metric
Researchers analyzed data from 3,139 subjects (66% male), aged 46–65 years, to develop a body flexibility score, known as Flexindex. This score was calculated based on the passive range of motion in 20 distinct movements (each scored between 0 and 4) across 7 different joints, yielding a total score range of 0–80.
Women exhibited a Flexindex that was 35% higher than that of men. During a median follow-up period of 12.9 years, 302 participants (9.6%), including 224 men and 78 women, passed away. The Flexindex showed an inverse correlation with mortality risk, being nearly 10% higher in survivors compared to non-survivors among both genders.
Flexibility’s Role in Reducing Mortality Risk
After adjusting for factors such as age, body mass index, and overall health, the study found that men and women with a low Flexindex had a 1.87 and 4.78 times greater risk of death, respectively, compared to those with a high Flexindex.
“Aerobic fitness, strength, and balance have all been linked to lower mortality in the past. Our research demonstrates that diminished body flexibility is also associated with reduced survival in middle-aged men and women,” stated Dr. Claudio Gil S. Araújo, MD, PhD, from the Exercise Medicine Clinic – CLINIMEX in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the study’s corresponding author.
The Vital Role of Flexibility in Aging
Dr. Araújo further noted that as flexibility naturally declines with age, greater emphasis should be placed on flexibility exercises. He also recommended that routine assessments of body flexibility be included in all physical fitness evaluations related to health.
Reference
“Reduced body flexibility is associated with poor survival in middle-aged men and women: a prospective cohort study” August 21, 2024, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports.
Middle-aged adults Body flexibility
