What makes someone more flexible?

[ammonihah99]

I am in A&P I and tonight in class there was a discussion between a student and the professor about what happens physiologically when we stretch to improve flexibility. The student said he had read from a few different sources that it's the muscles that undergo 90% of the change (sarcomeres lengthening or something similar) but the instructor said that it's the tendons and ligaments that are affected most (micro tears and repairs), but that it's probably both. I looked in our book, but the closest thing I could find is that there six factors that affect range of motion at synovial joints:

1. Structure or shape of the articulating bones.
2. Strength and tension of the joint ligaments.
3. Arrangement and tension of the muscles.
4. Contact of soft parts.
5. Hormones.
6. Disuse.

So now I have two questions:

1. What actually happens to make somebody more flexible, like a martial artist or a dancer?

2. Is the above a good list to keep in mind when educating future patients about range of motion issues?

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[jesspt]

I am in A&P I and tonight in class there was a discussion between a student and the professor about what happens physiologically when we stretch to improve flexibility. The student said he had read from a few different sources that it's the muscles that undergo 90% of the change (sarcomeres lengthening or something similar) but the instructor said that it's the tendons and ligaments that are affected most (micro tears and repairs), but that it's probably both. I looked in our book, but the closest thing I could find is that there six factors that affect range of motion at synovial joints:

1. Structure or shape of the articulating bones.
2. Strength and tension of the joint ligaments.
3. Arrangement and tension of the muscles.
4. Contact of soft parts.
5. Hormones.
6. Disuse.

So now I have two questions:

1. What actually happens to make somebody more flexible, like a martial artist or a dancer?

2. Is the above a good list to keep in mind when educating future patients about range of motion issues?

Here's a good read that debunks some myths about stretching, and addresses how we become more "flexible."

And, here's the full text article that the author references regarding the mechanism behind increasing flexibility.

 

[ammonihah99]

Thank you! That was a great read. So then could I add to the list of factors affecting limited range of motion, "7. Discomfort tolerance" ?

 

[jesspt]

Thank you! That was a great read. So then could I add to the list of factors affecting limited range of motion, "7. Discomfort tolerance" ?

Of course. But now ask yourself how many of the factors you have listed can be changed by a physical therapist.