# Effects of Stretching and Resistance Training on Psychophysical Awareness: A Pilot Study
## 1 Introduction
In daily activities, flexibility is essential for maintaining autonomy and preventing stiffnessthat can impair basic movements, such as bending, lifting objects, or simply walking. As age progresses, the loss of flexibility becomes a risk factor for the decline in quality of life, as it can have repercussions on functional limitations, increasing the likelihood of falls [31; 32]. In recent years, research has highlighted the effectiveness of innovative approaches to improving flexibility, including the use of counter-resistances [33; 34; 35]. This methodology, traditionally associated with strength training, seems to have a positive impact on joint mobility, enhancing tissue elasticity and joint stability. Unlike conventional stretching techniques, resistance-based flexibility training provides additional mechanical stimuli that can lead to neuromuscular, structural, and connective tissue adaptations, improving both passive and active range of motion and overall movement efficiency [8]. These effects may manifest in an acute manner immediately after training sessions or accumulate progressively over time with consistent practice, leading to sustained improvements in flexibility and movement efficiency. While the scientific literature presents various methodologies for increasing physical and performance-related flexibility, the psychophysical aspects of individuals in relation to flexibility enhancement--including elements such as perception and awareness--remain underexplored [36; 37]. In this context, perception refers to the ability to sense and interpret bodily information such as muscle tension, joint position, and movement feedback, typically mediated by proprioceptive and kinesthetic systems [38]. Awareness, on the other hand, involves the conscious recognition and cognitive integration of these internal signals into motor behavior, contributing to a coherent body schema [39]. Physiologically, these processes rely on afferent input from muscle spindles, Golgi tendon organs, and mechanoreceptors, with central integration occurring in the somatosensory cortex and cerebellum [40]. Psychologically, awareness is influenced by attention, interoception, and self-monitoring--mechanisms that affect motor control and emotional regulation [39]. Despite their relevance, the roles of perception and awareness in sports performance and motivation are rarely addressed in flexibility training research. Developing bodily awareness may help athletes refine technique, prevent injury, and enhance training adherence by improving their understanding of how their bodies respond to physical effort. Studies have suggested that psychological factors, including motivation, perceived effort, and mind-muscle connection, influence the effectiveness of flexibility training [40; 41]. The objective of this pilot study is to explore the relationship between the physical effects of specific resistance-based training protocols, particularly the increase in flexibility, and athletes' perceptions and awareness of psychophysical aspects. The study specifically aims to assess whether multi-joint resistance training, compared to traditional stretching, can simultaneously improve measurable flexibility and enhance participants' subjective awareness of their bodily states. This dual focus addresses a current gap in the literature that often separates performance outcomes from perceptual and psychological dimensions of training. Although the training methods employed are well-established in practice, the novelty of this study lies in its integrated evaluation of both physical adaptations and psychophysical awareness, which are rarely investigated together in the context of flexibility development. We hypothesize that a 12-week multi-joint resistance training program will lead to greater improvements in both flexibility and psychophysical awareness compared to a traditional static stretching protocol.