Levels of flexibility may affect longevity in middle aged people, research suggests.
Researchers were able to calculate body flexibility scores (Flexindex) for more than 3000 people (66% men) in Brazil aged 46–65 years after assessing their data. This score was derived from a combination of the passive range of motion in 20 movements involving several joints.
After taking age, body mass index, and health status into account, men and women with a low Flexindex had a 1.87- and 4.78-times higher risk of dying, respectively, than those with a high Flexindex.
The Flexindex score was 35% higher in women compared with men.
‘Being aerobically fit and strong and having good balance have been previously associated with low mortality,’ said Claudio Gil S. Araújo, corresponding author. ‘We were able to show that reduced body flexibility is also related to poor survival in middle-aged men and women.’
Claudio added that as flexibility tends to decrease with aging, it may be worth paying more attention to flexibility exercises.
Image | Pexels
