ArticleAge (Dordrecht, Netherlands)2013
Age-related mobility loss is joint-specific: an analysis from 6,000 Flexitest results.
Article in Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands), 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
30 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Acute Effects of Dynamic and Ballistic Stretching on Flexibility: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of sports science & medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Objectively Measured Sedentary Behavior and Physical Fitness in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Pooled it
- Updated Cardiovascular Prevention Guideline of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology - 2019.Arquivos brasileiros de cardiologia · 2019Guideline
- Effect of rhythmic auditory cueing on parkinsonian gait: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2018Pooled it
- Acute Effects of Tissue Flossing Coupled with Functional Movements on Knee Range of Motion, Static Balance, in Single-Leg Hop Distance, and Landing Stabilization Performance in Female College Students.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Trial
- Intraoperative functional zero-position is associated with superior outcomes after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for cuff tear arthropathy: a retrospective comparative study.Journal of shoulder and elbow arthroplasty · 2026Article
- Deep learning-based physical exercise assessment of older adults using single-camera videos.PLOS digital health · 2026Article
- Age Associations with Hamstring Tightness, Trunk Flexibility, and Lumbar Lordosis in Sedentary Adult Females: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of musculoskeletal & neuronal interactions · 2026Article
- Effects of Soccer Cleat Stud Patterns Worn Versus Lower Extremity Injuries in the English Premier League.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2025Article
- Regulation of Joint Tissues and Joint Function: Is There Potential for Lessons to Be Learned Regarding Regulatory Control from Joint Hypermobility Syndromes?International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Relationship between pectoralis major stiffness and shoulder extension range of motion.Frontiers in physiology · 2024Article
- A Virtual, 3D Multimodal Approach to Victim and Crime Scene Reconstruction.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Interventions to Improve Physical Capability of Older Adults with Mild Disabilities: A Case Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Age-related changes in protective arm reaction kinematics, kinetics, and neuromuscular activation during evoked forward falls.Human movement science · 2022Article
- Analysis of health-related, skill-related physical strength, and physique by blood pressure levels of Korean seniors.PloS one · 2022Article
- Age-Related Differences in Hamstring Flexibility in Prepubertal Soccer Players: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study.Frontiers in psychology · 2021Article
- Physical activity, sedentary behavior and functionality in older adults: A cross-sectional path analysis.PloS one · 2021Observational
- Effects of Different Tissue Flossing Applications on Range of Motion, Maximum Voluntary Contraction, and H-Reflex in Young Martial Arts Fighters.Frontiers in physiology · 2021Article
- The Case for Retiring Flexibility as a Major Component of Physical Fitness.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2020Article
- Secondary frozen shoulder after traumatic anterior shoulder instability.JSES international · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Although aging is commonly linked to a reduction in joint range of motion, it is unclear if all body joints behave similarly. To address this issue, the main purpose of this study was to compare age-related loss of mobility of seven body joints. A total of 6,000 participants (3,835 men and 2,165 women) aged 5 to 92 years took part in this study. The maximal passive range of motion of 20 movements was evaluated by Flexitest, and each movement was scored from 0 to 4. Composite scores were obtained for each of seven joints and for overall flexibility (Flexindex (FLX)) by adding individual movement scores. Confirming previous findings, FLX systematically decreased with aging (p < .001), with female participants being more flexible for all ages (p < 0.001) and having a more gradual, 0.6% vs. 0.8%/year, age reduction (p < .001). Starting at 30 and 40 years, respectively, for male and female participants, the relative contribution of each composite joint score to FLX dramatically changed. Shoulder contribution to FLX male's score went from 13.9% at 28 years of age to only 5.2% at 85 years of age. In general, proportionally, shoulder and trunk became less flexible, while elbow and knee mobility was preserved to a greater extent. Our findings indicated that age-related loss of mobility is rather joint-specific, which could be related to distinct routine usage patterns of the major body joints along life.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.