With appropriate training, flexibility can, and should, be developed at all ages. This does not imply, however, that flexibility can be developed at the same rate by everyone. In general, the older you are, the longer it will take to develop the desired level of flexibility. However, the older the person, the more significant the benefits will be.
The main reason we become less flexible as we get older is a result of certain changes that take place in our connective tissues. As we age, our bodies gradually dehydrate to some extent. It is believed that “stretching stimulates the production or retention of lubricants between the connective tissue fibers, thus preventing the formation of adhesions.” Hence, exercise can delay some of the loss of flexibility that occurs due to the aging process.
Some of the physical changes attributed to aging include:
* Changes in the chemical structure of the tissues.
* Loss of suppleness due to the replacement of muscle fibers with fatty, collagenous fibers.
* An increased amount of calcium deposits, adhesions, and cross-links in the body.
* An increase in the level of fragmentation and dehydration.
This does not mean that you should give up trying to achieve flexibility if you are elderly or inflexible. Increases in the ability of muscle tissues and connective tissues to elongate (stretch) can be achieved at any age. It just means that you need to work harder, and more carefully, for a longer period of time to increase flexibility.
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