263 - Flexibility & Aging: To Live Longer Get To Know Your Toes

[Curt]

263- Flexibility As An Indicator of Aging & Longevity: To Live Longer, Get to Know Your Toes
 Medscape Brenda Sandburg, August 21, 2024
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/live-longer-get-know-your-toes-2024a1000f5c?ecd=WNL_trdalrt_pos3_ous_240822_etid6766304&uac=305958HN&impID=6766304


Claudio Gil Araújo, MD, PhD, the research director of the Exercise Medicine Clinic-CLINIMEX in Rio de Janeiro, who led the study, said his group was not surprised by the results. "We found what we expected. Reduced flexibility was related to poor survival," he said.


 The findings, published today in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, used data from 2087 men and 1052 women who underwent a medical-functional evaluation at CLINIMEX


 "The probability of death during nearly 13 years of follow-up was close to 1% when Flexindex scores exceed 49 for men and 56 for women," Araújo told Medscape Medical News. "On the other hand, for men and women placed in the lower 10th percent of Flexindex scores, death rates were, respectively, 26.9% and 18.2%."


 Claudio Gil Araújo, MD, PhD (CLINIMEX) has published two previous studies on flexibility. The first showed that the ability to rise from a sitting position on the floor is a strong predictor of longevity, and the second demonstrated that the inability to stand on one leg for at least 10 seconds is linked to an increased risk for death over 7 years ...

FYI - besides flexibility test the hand strength test is also used as an indicator of health status.

[rahab]

Need to do more exercises 

[JimB]

Many, many years ago I was watching a program on 3abn and the dr. then said that flexibility is the key to long life. I thought then, well I guess I'm doomed as I've never been able (even as a child, and wasn't overweight in the least) reach over and touch my toes (without bending knees) like all my friends.

I do purposely exercise  4 to 5 days a week, I don't work on my flexibility.... maybe I should??

[Curt]

Bro Jim,
this is only an indicator. Theory is that we loose energy as we age which results in lowered muscular strength. Flexibility is totally different so you are ok not touching your toes  . I attended a session with a genetic specialist who had me sit, cross my legs and try to touch the gorund with the toes of the leg that is on the top. I did it and he said I may have the potential for marfan's syndrome. Truth is I was very active physically in martial arts, football (goal keeper) and table tennis and loved exercise so I had exceptional range of motion. So there are certain situations that can affect the result of these simple checks.

Dr Charles Thomas demonstrated very simple test to us in class (Andrews) that can show other areas that require work and there are some I have read about.
Standing on one foot for 10 seconds
Checking posture and alignment for neck, hip, head
Standing simultaneously on two calibrated scales to determine if the spine is out of alignment as the body will shift weight to compensate. Can also be done with a long straight edge held against the top of the shoulders and held level

[JimB]

Well that is a good thing to hear then. Flexibility has never been my strong point with the exception maybe of sitting I still have problem sitting indian style. Sometimes its preferred.