For as long as I can remember, I have been insecure about my lack of flexibility. Bend over and touch my toes? I can't even bend over and grab my ankles. And no amount of stretching seems to help.
Part of the reason for my insecurity is that everyone tells me that I need to be flexible to run well. But, when it comes to running, science has a way of arriving at counter-intuitive findings. Here are links to two academic studies showing that less flexible runners tend to use energy more efficiently.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11774065
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19050648
Why should this be so? The scientists aren't sure, but they theorize that less flexible muscles and tendons tend to facilitate a greater elastic energy return during the shortening phase of the activity cycle. (Think of how much faster a tight rubber band snaps back, in comparison to a loose, stretchy one.)
Of course, there are other reasons that flexibility may be valuable, including the prevention of injury. Energy efficiency isn't everything. Still these studies give me a little more freedom to ignore the common wisdom and feel good about my body.
Related posts:
Icing Can Be Make Sore Muscles Worse
Part of the reason for my insecurity is that everyone tells me that I need to be flexible to run well. But, when it comes to running, science has a way of arriving at counter-intuitive findings. Here are links to two academic studies showing that less flexible runners tend to use energy more efficiently.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11774065
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19050648
Why should this be so? The scientists aren't sure, but they theorize that less flexible muscles and tendons tend to facilitate a greater elastic energy return during the shortening phase of the activity cycle. (Think of how much faster a tight rubber band snaps back, in comparison to a loose, stretchy one.)
Of course, there are other reasons that flexibility may be valuable, including the prevention of injury. Energy efficiency isn't everything. Still these studies give me a little more freedom to ignore the common wisdom and feel good about my body.
Related posts:
Icing Can Be Make Sore Muscles Worse
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