Discussion
This study provides descriptive data on the age-related differences
(across the age range of 55–85 years) in flexibility in a
large cross-sectional sample of male and female community-dwelling
older adults. It also provides an examination of
the role of physical activity in the changes to upper and
lower body flexibility with aging and a determination of
the relationship of flexibility with functional outcomes in
older adults. Our sample demonstrated a mean upper body
flexibility of 138 degrees and a mean lower body flexibility of
109 degrees. Bassey et al. [12] reported shoulder abduction
values of 125 degrees for men and 119 for women in a
similar large sample (