5 Habits That Are Affecting Your Flexibility And Range Of Motion

We are all different when it comes to our flexibility and range of motion. While some of us can bend in half, others can barely put their socks on in the morning. The way your joints move and the length of the muscles that cross these joints will determine your flexibility. There are simple exercises and massages that can retain and improve how flexible a person is, but there many other factors that will determine someone’s range of motion too. Some of these factors will be something we can’t control, such as our age, gender, joint structure, connective tissue and proprioceptors in the muscle fibers. However, there are many habits that will be in our control, which affect our flexibility and range of motion. Here are 5 of them.

 

Your Exercise Routine

Do you have an exercise routine? If you do, what does it consist of? Exercise is the main way many of us keep active and healthy, as it keeps us moving and gets our hearts beating. All exercise is good exercise, as long as it is being practiced safely. Your exercise routine will have a huge impact on how flexible you are and your range of motion. To improve your flexibility, here are some exercises you can incorporate into your exercise routine.

 

Your Sleeping Habits

The way you sleep will play a huge part in how flexible you are. There is a lot of controversy over the ideal sleeping position, but most of the time, this will depend on the individual. There is some evidence that suggests that sleeping without pillows will improve flexibility without having to stretch because pillows don’t allow your spine and neck to decompress the way they should. Sleeping on your back is said to be the perfect position, as it allows your spinal discs to open and expand.

 

Your Mattress Quality

Your mattress size and quality will help to support your posture as well as the right sleeping habits. You will need to make sure you choose the right material and the size. In general, memory foam, adjustable, hybrid, pillow top, and waterbeds are the perfect mattresses for comfort and support. If you have a partner, you are tall, or you enjoy to sprawl out when you sleep, then the size of your mattress counts too. Most people would go for a king, but you can stretch out more on a California King.

 

Your Sitting Positions

Posture is extremely important when it comes to flexibility and range of motion. Bad posture when you sit and stand can put a lot of strain and pressure on your neck and back, which will lead to a reduced range of motion in return. When you sit at your desk, your back should be upright. Your knees should be in line with your hips and your feet should be flat on the floor. When you sit anywhere else, you should avoid slumping and sit in a position where your back is supported.

 

Your Clothing Choice

It may sound strange, but what you wear can help to improve your flexibility and range of motion more than many of us think. Wearing comfortable clothes that don’t restrict our movement will help us to perform better, move freely and in some cases, can prevent injury by reducing the amount of pressure we put on certain parts of our body. Our footwear falls into this category too. Wearing flat, supportive shoes will increase our flexibility by providing support to our posture.

 

Now that you know what habits could be inhibiting your flexibility and range of motion, you can make the necessary changes to improve this area of your life. By doing so, you will feel younger for longer and will be more comfortable in return.

 

 

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HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

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Written by HealthStatus
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

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