How far can you reach past your toes while sitting? The answer could not only indicate how flexible you are, but also how flexible your arteries are.
If you are stiff and can’t reach too far, don’t despair. New research suggests stretching exercises that increase flexibility could prevent or reverse the stiffening of arteries.
In a study entitled “Poor trunk flexibility is associated with arterial stiffening”, published in the American Journal of Physiology, researchers found that a sit-and-reach test was an accurate way to assess the flexibility of the arteries for people 40 and older.
Because arterial stiffness often precedes cardiovascular disease, this simple, non-invasive test could become a quick measure of a person’s risk for early death from heart attack or stroke.
This is one of many reasons why it’s important to stretch every single day.
Credit: S. L. Baker