Flexy Teens -

Teenagers produce higher levels of elastin and collagen than adults. Elastin is the protein that allows tissue to return to its original shape after stretching. Because teens have a higher elastin-to-collagen ratio, their connective tissues are more malleable. This is nature’s window for developing flexibility that will last a lifetime.

A "flexy" joint without strong muscles is a dislocated joint waiting to happen. For every flexibility exercise, there must be a strength exercise. If you stretch your hamstrings, you must deadlift or do Nordic curls to strengthen the eccentric load. flexy teens

There is a point of diminishing returns. For a soccer player, too much passive hamstring flexibility reduces the "spring" in their stride, making them slower. For a swimmer, excessive shoulder flexibility (beyond 180 degrees) can lead to chronic instability. Teenagers produce higher levels of elastin and collagen

The goal for the average teen is functional flexibility: the ability to squat deep without rounding the back, the ability to reach overhead without arching the spine, and the ability to sit on the floor comfortably. This is nature’s window for developing flexibility that

Bouncing while stretching activates the stretch reflex (the muscle’s automatic defense against tearing). It actually makes the muscle tighter immediately after. Move slowly.

During puberty, the body undergoes rapid skeletal growth. Long bones lengthen, and muscle tendons often tighten to keep up with the changing leverage points. While this often leads to a temporary phase of clumsiness or "growing pains," it also presents a unique opportunity.