If you’ve been skipping your stretches, this new research might make you roll out that yoga mat.

A 2024 Brazilian study published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport found that low joint flexibility is linked to higher mortality risk, and the connection is especially strong in women.

Researchers followed 3,139 adults between the ages of 46 and 65 for nearly 13 years, tracking their performance on a standardized flexibility test called the Flexitest. They discovered that:

🔹 Men with low flexibility had a 1.87x higher risk of death

🔹 Women had a 4.78x higher risk compared to their most flexible peers

The study’s lead author, Claudio Gil Araújo, MD, emphasized that flexibility is more than a fitness bonus — it’s a vital sign of overall health and mobility.

🧪 Study citation:

Araújo CGS, Ramos PS, et al. Flexibility and all-cause mortality: The CLINIMEX cohort. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2024. PubMed PMID: 39165228

Final Thought

Flexibility doesn’t just make you feel better — it might actually help you live longer. So next time you’re scrolling, pause and do a quick stretch. Your future self (and maybe your doctor) will thank you.