Lesson 13: Basic Principles of Sports Physiology (Part 4 of 7)

Condition

1. Adaptation

2. Endurance

3. Strength

4. Flexibility

5. Speed

6. Coordination

Flexibility plays an important role in sports as well as everyday life. It is the range of motion in a joint or group of joints. Flexibility determines how effectively joints can be moved through a complete range of motion. Distinctions are made between overall, specialized, active and passive flexibility (cf. Hollmann/Hettinger, 2000).

Overall flexibility: sufficient level of flexibility in the most important joint systems

Specialized flexibility: sufficient flexibility at a particular joint (specific to a type of sport)

Active flexibility: the range of motion a joint can achieve without assitance from an external force (i.e., most yoga stretches, such as a side-leaning stretch)  Additional distinctions are made between static and dynamic flexibility. Exercisers generally do active dynamic stretching during the warm-up phase of a workout.

Passive flexibility: the range of motion a joint can achieve with assistance from an external force (i.e., pressing or pulling near a joint, such as pressing above the elbow for a tricep stretch) Exercisers generally do passive static stretching during the cool down phase of a workout, though active static stretches are also common.

Passive flexibility leads to a greater range of motion than active.

Flexibility is important since it is required for a satisfactory execution of a movement, in terms of both its quality and quantity. (cf. Bös/Brehm, 2006)

A comprehensive physical training regimen should include flexibility training, as it can prevent limitations of mobility in everyday life and help mitigate existing pathological limitations of mobility.