Quick Health Tip - Flexibility, Elasticity, Plasticity, and Viscocity

​Relative to movement and deformation potential, soft tissues such as our muscles, fascia, tendons, and ligaments all have traits of elasticity, plasticity, and viscosity.

​Elasticity allows stretched tissues to return to the original form (think of a rubber band being stretched).

Plasticity is the ability to become permanently lengthened. Routinely applying tissue-stretching forces may assume new permanent lengths. However, it is important to note that external forces that exceed the restrictive force may damage or deform your body by lengthening beyond the elastic limit (think of spinal ligaments and stress from improper posture).

Viscosity refers to the fluid resistant within the soft tissue and varies within the body. To reduce tissue viscosity and increase elastic response, warming up would reduce viscosity and increase your potential movement.