I didn't see any actual measurements in the article but the video made it look like maybe reaching your toes was ok.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7708234/do_this_test_to_find_out_if_you_have.html
So I tried this, getting down to the floor was interesting. With my good arm I was able to touch my toes, with my bad arm I guess I am at extreme risk for another stroke or heart attack.
A simple test that measures trunk flexibility could say a lot about your risk of dying of a heart attack or stroke. According to a study published in the American Journal of Physiology, poor trunk flexibility is aAdChoices
marker for arterial stiffness, a condition that increases the risk of deadly heart disease and strokes.
Trunk Flexibility and Arterial Stiffness: How Far Can You Reach?
Researchers used the sit-and-reach test to measure the trunk flexibility of 526 healthy adults. The participants were asked to sit on the floor with their legs straight and their backs pressed against a wall. Then they were asked to bend forward while the researchers measured how far they could reach with their hands. They also measured their blood pressure and did other tests to assess their degree of arterial stiffness. What did they find?
In those over 40, lack of trunk flexibility was a good marker for stiff arteries in this group. Older adults who had limited trunk flexibility and an inability to reach very far when sitting had a greater degree of arterial stiffness. Older adults with poor trunk flexibility also had higher systolic blood pressures, on average.
Yoga and Pilates: Good for More than Your Abdominals?
Now, researchers have another question. Will a program designed to increase trunk flexibility reduce arterial stiffness and the risk of heart disease? One of the authors of the study, Kenta Yomamoto, is hopeful.
He and his colleagues believe that stretching the muscles in the trunk and increasing the flexibility of these muscles helps to "relax" stiff arteries and reduce blood pressure. They speculate that exercise programs that focus on flexibility such as yoga and Pilates could help to reduce arterial stiffness, and, possibly, the risk of heart disease and stroke.
I herniated a disc and have been keeping back pain at bay by doing yoga stretches every morning under the covers while I am still toasty warm. I've been doing this for years because it feels good and gives me a legitimate excuse to stay in bed 10 more minutes. Now I learn that I may also be keeping my arteries flexible. Wahoo - I get a twofer.
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