why are young kids so flexible? When do we loose these skills, and why?
As we age, we naturally lose some of our muscle elasticity [1]. However, there are things we can do to remain limber with the passage of time [1]. In fact, flexibility is one of the main factors which allows a person to remain independent as they age [1]. Stretching exercises, strength training, yoga, and tai chi are good examples of activities that assist in retaining flexibility [1]. There is no specific age when we wake up and our flexibility has ‘officially declined,’ but it is a fact that as we age our flexibility decreases, which leads to decreased functional ability and mobility [2]. As our bodies get older, we lose a small amount of flexibility as a result of the normal aging processes [2]. There is loss of water in our tissues and intervertebral discs, increased stiffness in our joints, and a loss of elasticity in muscles and tendons [2].
For the most part, flexibility is influenced by the health and structure of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in a particular joint [1]. However, as we get older, our bodies go through several changes [1]. These include: loss of muscle mass; loss of bone density; decrease in water content in tendons, making them stiffer; decrease in elasticity of ligaments; thinning of cartilage between joints [1]. Given these, it’s easy to understand why our flexibility normally worsens the older we get [1]. Nonetheless, barring any pre-existing medical condition, our loss of flexibility is simply because our muscles, ligaments, and tendons become weaker as we age [1]. This makes them less able to support our joints’ full range of motions [1]. That’s why kids are almost always more flexible than adults and why you were more likely to be more flexible before than you are now [1]. The good news is that we can improve our flexibility no matter what stage we are in our lives [1]. Barring certain pre-existing medical conditions, our loss of flexibility is simply because our muscles, ligaments, and tendons become weaker as we age [1]. This makes them less able