The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Flexibility

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship existed between flexibility and physical activity levels. Subjects included 128 male (n=64) and female (n=64) volunteers, 19 to 55 years of age. All subjects completed a physical activity questionnaire (which differentiated between work, sport, leisure and total physical activity) and a series of five flexibility tests. Four of the five flexibility tests were completed with the use of a goniometer which measured shoulder flexion, hip flexion, knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion. The sit and reach test was used to assess hamstringlumbar flexibility. After analyzing the data by using Pearson correlation coefficients, a relationship did not exist between total flexibility and physical activity. However, 10 significant relationships were discovered. Hip flexion measures, when correlated to the leisure physical activity index had a correlation coefficient of r=0.195. Sit and reach correlated to the leisure index and total physical activity (r=0.222 and r=0.208, respectively). Weight, age and gender had negative, significant relationships to total flexibility (r=-0.251, r=-0.188 and r=-0.400, respectively). Total flexibility correlated to shoulder flexion, ankle dorsiflexion, hip flexion and sit and reach scores (r=0.598, r=0.479, r=0.732 and r=0.776, respectively). All values were significant at p < 0.05 In conclusion, the subjects in this study demonstrated that physical activity (whether it was on the job, during leisure time, taking part in an organized sport or all three indices combined) did not correlate to the amount of total flexibility they possessed. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude to those who helped me in so many ways, not just in the completion of my master’s thesis, but throughout my collegiate career. To Dr. Latin and Dr. Berg, the two biggest mentors in my life. I will never be able to thank you two enough for all the support and encouragement you have given to me over the years, especially during the very difficult last few months of my thesis project. Your motivation, enthusiasm and patience was the reason I accomplished one of the biggest goals of my life. Also, my deep appreciation goes out to the other member on my thesis committee, Dr. Stuberg. Thank you so much for all the time and effort you contributed to help make my thesis a success. To my mom and dad. What words can I say to express my thanks to you? Without you two, I could not have made it through my college years mentally, physically or spiritually, not to mention financially. You have been my everlasting source of love and support, and for that I am forever grateful. I love you both so much and I hope I made you proud Doug, thanks to you also. Especially for being my test subject on numerous occasions, even when it hurt (you big baby). Finally, thanks to my husband, Patrick. I want you to know that your invariable strength and determination is what inspired me most to get through this past school year and finish my thesis. Thank you so much for your unending patience, encouragement and support. I love you. Now, it’s my turn to be there for you.