Introduction
As indicated in a recent systematic review by our group
[1], there is conflicting information regarding both the relationship
between flexibility training interventions and functional
outcomes and the relationship between improved
flexibility and daily functioning; health benefits have not yet
been established. The comparison of studies in this area to
provide a prescription of the flexibility is complicated by the
variety of limb ranges of motion studied, testing procedures
utilized, and methods of assessing physical activity levels.
Furthermore, this component of physical health has been
somewhat neglected or forgotten in the current literature
despite the lack of evidence for recommendations of the
amount and type of flexibility needed for health in older
adults. Further, despite this lack of a synthesis of the literature
to support the recommendation of the inclusion of a flexibility
component to older adult exercise programs, many
older adult activity programs place a considerable emphasis
on flexibility. The present study attempts to add additional
insight to this area by presenting the relationship between
declines in flexibility across age and functional outcomes in
a large sample of individuals representing the older adult age
range. Joint flexibility may decrease across the age span [2–
4], which has the potential to affect normal daily functioning.
Upper body flexibility is known to be important for activities
such as getting dressed and reaching for objects, while
lower body flexibility is important for maintaining normal
walking patterns and for activities involving bending and
reaching [5]. While the loss in flexibility with age has been
attributable, in part, to decreased activity [5], the literature
describing the influence of physical activity on flexibility and
the aging process is surprisingly limited. The purpose of the
present study was to examine the cross-sectional age-related
differences in flexibility in a large sample of independently
living adults aged 55–86 years with varying activity levels.
The recent systematic literature review identified the lack
of an established relationship between improved flexibility
and daily functioning and health benefits [1]. As such, a
secondary purpose of the present study was to describe any
relationships of physical activity levels and of functional
outcomes (specifically walking), with flexibility measures.