1. Flex for Fitness Not for Vanity
Flexor muscles are skeletal muscles that cause a joint to bend, thereby decreasing the distance between the two parts of the body on either side of the joint. In the gym, you'll often see people focusing on very noticeable flexors such as the bicep, which is an elbow flexor, while neglecting less seen but extremely important flexors like the hamstrings. Correct workout programs must work all major flexors, from the bicep to the abdomen, if you want to be fit, healthy and injury resistant.
2. With Flexion Comes Extension
One of the most basic rules for any sound approach to exercise and fitness is, "If you do a pushing exercise then you must do a pulling exercise." The push-pull principle is based on the fact that flexor muscles must work in parallel with extensors if you're to do any kind of motion efficiently, quickly and powerfully. So, for example, for every set of push-ups you do, throw in some pull ups. Similarly, if you like to run, which primarily works the hamstrings, you should start to bike on occasion to work out your quadriceps.
3. Stretch Like a Pro
Fitness experts cite flexor flexibility as one of the main differences between a professional or even extremely skilled amateur athlete and the ordinary Joe struggling to pound out a mile or a set. Stretching flexors like the hamstring and biceps thoroughly results in drastic improvements in daily motion, like walking, and athletic motion, such as running (if you're stretching the hamstrings) or punching (when you stretch the biceps). So, while you should stretch both flexors and extensors, if you have to choose go with the flexor stretches.
4. Flexors Are Hip These Days
The hip flexors are the muscles that run across the front and part of the sides of the hip. While they are less noticeable than other flexors like the bicep and hamstring, the hip flexors are one of the leading causes of injury in people as different as serious runners, who get hip flexor strain, and office workers, whose daily chair posture leads to back and knee problems. A good way to keep your body in shape is to start doing lunges to stretch and work the flexors.
5. Don't Overextend Yourself
It's very difficult to flex one of your flexor muscles so far that you pull or damage the extensor muscle that opposes the flexor. In contrast to this, it's very easy to overextend the flexor muscle. The key thing to remember is that every time you activate an extensor muscle like the triceps you're also taking the corresponding flexor along for the ride. So, make sure to warm up flexors before doing extensor exercises and keep in mind that the flexors are being worked and made vulnerable by any kind of extension that you do.
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