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Materials
In materials science, the amount of deformation an
object can be bent, twisted, lengthened or compressed
due to a force or stress is called the strain.
- Plasticity is a property of a material to
undergo a non-reversible change of shape in response
to an applied force.
- Elasticity is the ability to deform under stress
(e.g., external forces), but then return to its
original shape when the stress is removed.
- Ductility is the physical property of being
capable of sustaining large plastic deformations
without fracture (in metals, such as being drawn
into a wire).
- Malleability means the material can easily be
deformed, especially by hammering or rolling,
without cracking or breaking.
Systems theory
In systems theory, which has applications in diverse
fields including biology, ecology, psychology,
economics, and management, the flexibility of a system
is related to its adaptation to a new environment or its
resilience in recovering from a shock or disturbance.
Individuals within an organization also demonstrate
flexibility with their ability to adapt to the
environment or troubleshoot while in the field.
One example is the attribute of flexibility in
engineering.
Physiology
In the physiology of vertebrates, including humans,
the measurement of the achievable distance between the
flexed position and the extended position of a
particular joint or muscle group is called its
"flexibility", but this is more properly called its
range of motion or range of movement. In this sense, the
flexibility of a joint depends on many factors,
particularly the length and looseness of the muscles and
ligaments due to normal human variation, and the shape
of the bones and cartilage that make up the joint.
Flexibility, or suppleness, is also a more
generalized term used to compare the relative range of
motion of all joints of an individual with a standard.
The ability to achieve a full range of movements – to
turn, stretch, twist and bend – without any stiffness,
aching or suffering a spine or joint injury is defined
as suppleness.
Medical conditions such as arthritis can decrease
flexibility, while Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome can increase
flexibility. Exercise increases the amount of
flexibility in a joint, while decreasing the amount of
resistance. Different sports have different flexibility
requirements, which can be increased further through
training and practice of the sport. A person training
for gymnastics would develop more flexibility than a
shot put thrower.
Those who practice gymnastics (especially rhythmic
gymnastics), dance, figure skating, martial arts, body
toning, yoga, cheerleading and contortion rely on
functional flexibility (increased range of motion with
strength and control) to perform their actions.
Relative flexibility
Since muscles which go through growth in size but not
in length, when one muscle grows through hypertrophy its
opposite side muscle (the antagonist) will have to
lengthen, and absolute flexibility is the term to
describe a muscle's length, in and of itself, where
relative flexibility is the flexibility of a joint, as
compared to its antagonistic movement
For example, the calf muscle extends the foot towards
the ground (plantarflexion) and the shin muscle flexes
the foot in the opposite direction (dorsiflexion). If a
person's calf is overly strong it will not be as
flexible as the opposite shin muscle, and plantarflexion
will be exhibit relatively inflexible as compared to
dorsiflexion using the person's weaker, but more
flexible shin muscle
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