PHYSICAL ACTIVITY For the most part, active individuals have greater flexibility in the joints they regularly use than in their inactive counterparts. Voorrips et al. (1993) confirmed with a population of 50 mature women (mean age 71 years) that those subjects who regularly did more walking had greater flexibility in the hip and spine (assessed by sit-and-reach test) than their less active counterparts. Kerrigan et al. (2001) declare that these data suggest a very meaningful application with fall prevention. Their comparison of 16 elderly subjects (8 men and 8 women; average age 77 years) with a history of falling to 23 healthy nonfallers (10 men and 13 women; average age 73 years) showed an association between hip tightness and more falls. The authors specifically recommend hip extension stretching as a necessary intervention for fall prevention. Misner and colleagues (1992), in a long-term study with 12 women aged 50–71 years, showed that regular exercise (15–30 minutes of stretching and 30–60 minutes of walking or water aerobics) 3 times per week for 5 years increased shoulder and hip ROM significantly (3%–22% in various joint actions). Exercise also helped the subjects perform activities of daily living more efficiently. Indeed, ACSM (2006) recommends that preventive and rehabilitative exercise programs should include activities that promote the maintenance of flexibility.
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