Case 34 – High Flexibility, Low Stability: When Stretching Stops Working

This case involves multiple clients from highly flexible populations, including professional yoga teachers, Pilates instructors, and dancers, who presented with long-standing movement restrictions, reduced strength, and poor stability despite excellent joint range of motion.

A highly flexible dancer demonstrating single-leg dynamic control during movement assessment, highlighting the difference between flexibility and true stability.

Although these individuals demonstrated exceptional flexibility and control in static positions, dynamic movement assessment revealed clear deficits. During loaded or transitional movements, specific muscle groups failed to activate appropriately, dynamic chains were disrupted, and fascial restrictions limited efficient force transfer. Repeated stretching and conventional training had not improved these issues and, in some cases, further reduced joint stability.

Many of these clients had previously been told their declining performance was age-related, despite maintaining high training volumes and access to professional care. Following targeted neuromuscular and movement-chain–based intervention, dynamic strength, stability, and movement control improved markedly. Several clients reported they had not felt this level of control or strength in years.

This case highlights the limitations of stretching-dominant approaches and the importance of restoring dynamic activation and coordination rather than further increasing flexibility.

Clinical Practice: Heal Young Massage

Evidence-based remedial massage and movement rehabilitation services.