El Paso Functional Medicine
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Joint Flexibility Health: EP Wellness and Functional Medicine Clinic

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Flexibility is the ability of a joint/s to move through an unrestricted range of motion. To maintain joint health, the cartilage and structures within the joint need a constant supply of blood, nutrients, and synovial fluid to move through a full range of motion. The range of motion is influenced by the mobility of the soft tissues that surround the joint. These soft tissues include muscles, ligaments, tendons, joint capsules, and skin. Factors affecting the loss of normal joint flexibility include injury, inactivity, or little to no stretching. Although flexibility varies for everybody, minimum ranges are necessary for maintaining total body health. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can create a personalized stretching program to restore joint flexibility.

Joint Flexibility Health: EP's Chiropractic Functional Specialists

Joint Flexibility

Body Effects

  • Not stretching the body can lead to fatigue, weakness, and soft tissue shortening.
  • The effect can be particularly noticeable in weight-bearing joints like the hips and knees.
  • If the joints become weak, the risk of injury increases.
  • Inflexible muscles tire more quickly, causing opposing muscle groups to work harder.
  • Muscle fatigue can lead to muscular injuries and the inability to protect the joints from more severe injuries.
  • Decreased flexibility can also lead to added stress on structures and tissues in a different body area from the source of the inflexibility.
  • An example is tendonitis in the knee can be related to calf tightness.

Stretching Routine Benefits

Research has shown that stretching can help improve flexibility and, as a result, the range of motion of the joints. Benefits include:

  • Improved performance in physical activities.
  • Improved ability with daily activities.
  • Decreased risk of injuries.
  • Increase circulation.
  • Improved muscle function.

Testing

Flexibility can be measured with functional tests. These tests measure the joint’s range within common movement patterns. Using these tests, areas of inflexibility can be identified and addressed. The tests look at the following:

  • Neuromuscular coordination.
  • How the muscles return to a normal resting state.
  • Blood circulation and recirculation.
  • Typical assessment areas include the lower back, hips, hamstrings, knees, and feet.

Stretching the Body

Developing a regular stretching routine to be incorporated into a training program is recommended. A stretching routine should cover all the major muscle groups of the body as well as any specific muscle groups. Implementing a physical therapy stretching program can help individuals stay motivated, as gaining flexibility takes time. It can take several weeks of consistent, regular stretching for improvement.

  • Stretching with a physical therapist will target the largest areas of inflexibility.
  • Stretching sessions can be 20 minutes or more.
  • Once these areas have been addressed, the therapist will move on to more specific areas.
  • The therapist will train the individual how to stretch at home.

The therapist will provide specific guidelines that should be followed for stretching at home:

  • Stretching when muscles are cold could lead to a strain or pull.
  • Warming up before stretching is recommended as it increases the blood flow and temperature of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, improving the elasticity and functioning of the tissues.
  • Begin each stretch slowly and gently.
  • Maintain the stretch position for 30 seconds, and gradually increase to 1-2 minutes.
  • Maintain a regular breathing pattern when stretching.
  • Stay relaxed, and do not bounce.
  • There should be pulling or tightness but not pain.
  • Static stretching should gradually go through the full range of motion until the resistance is felt.
  • Stretch to the point of tightness and then just beyond.
  • Gradually release the stretch.
  • Repeat daily.

A stretching therapy program keeps the body loose and effectively increases the mobility of all soft tissues.


Full Body Stretching


References

Behm DG. Does stretching affect performance? In: The Science and Physiology of Flexibility and Stretching. Kindle edition. Routledge; 2019.

Berg, K. Stretching fundamentals. In: Prescriptive Stretching. 2nd ed. Kindle edition. Human Kinetics; 2020.

Ghasemi, Cobra, et al. “The effect of soft tissue manipulation and rest on knee extensor muscles fatigue: Do torque parameters and induced perception following muscle fatigue have enough reliability?.” Journal of family medicine and primary care vol. 9,2 950-956. 28 Feb. 2020, doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_838_19

Gordon BT, et al., eds. Flexibility assessments and exercise programming for apparently healthy participants. In: ACSM’s Resources for the Exercise Physiologist. 3rd ed. Kindle Edition. Wolters Kluwer; 2022.

Hui, Alexander Y et al. “A systems biology approach to synovial joint lubrication in health, injury, and disease.” Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. Systems biology and medicine vol. 4,1 (2012): 15-37. doi:10.1002/wsbm.157

Lindstedt, Stan L. “Skeletal muscle tissue in movement and health: positives and negatives.” The Journal of experimental biology vol. 219, Pt 2 (2016): 183-8. doi:10.1242/jeb.124297

Post Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Joint Flexibility Health: EP Wellness and Functional Medicine Clinic" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

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Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
License Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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