Why your flexibility declines with age, and what to do about it.

Being flexible means more than just being able to touch your toes or do a split. It also means being able to move your body and complete daily tasks like tying your shoelaces, getting out of bed and carrying groceries without discomfort, pain or restrictions.

However, as we age, we lose a small amount of our flexibility. And experts agree that increases our risk of injury, hinders our ability to perform daily activities with ease and may add to a decline in overall quality of life.

What Is Flexibility

Flexibility, according to the American College of Sports Medicine, refers to the ability of soft tissues (such as muscles, ligaments and tendons) to move and stretch seamlessly throughout a complete range of motion. Ideally you can do all this without causing pain or restrictions, Kemly Philip, MD, PhD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician with UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann, tells LIVESTRONG.com.