Hello all you Nimblers!

Today’s article is, “ASK CHATGPT A QUESTION.”

From time to time we will have conversations with AI to assess what answers it comes up with for specific health and fitness questions. Nimble will add some nuanced comments to complement ChatGPT’s answers.

Today’s question is:

“How can I improve flexibility and prevent injury during exercise?”

Let’s compare the responses below:

CHATGPT:

Warm up before exercising with dynamic stretching or light cardio to increase blood flow and prepare your muscles for activity.

 NIMBLE:

Warming up with some light cardio is fine and progressing into dynamic stretching is all ok. That being said, your movement prep warmups should be programmed specifically to you and your training objectives for any given session.  A quality warm up can range from 5-20 minutes depending on one’s fitness level, health history and personal preferences. A movement prep program can include foam rolling, isometric exercises, mobility methods, dynamic stretching, calisthenics, and initial warm up sets.  

CHATGPT:

Incorporate regular stretching into your exercise routine, focusing on all major muscle groups.

NIMBLE:

The important thing to understand about stretching is it is about helping build strength and functional mobility around any given joint. The muscles and fascia you stretch and how you go about lengthening this tissue matters. You first need to understand what type of tissue characteristics you have and how flexible or inflexible you currently are. We could talk for days about this subject but here it is in a nutshell: You can activate the weak apposing muscle to assist in lengthening the tight muscle. You can stretch the tight muscles with various techniques that range from soft tissue techniques, static, muscle energy techniques, active, dynamic, controlled articulations, or resistance-flexibility training.  We shift the conversation towards looking at flexibility as part of a mobility program.  Included in a flexibility program is full range of motion and strength training that might prove to deliver the best results.

CHATGPT:

Practice yoga or Pilates to improve flexibility and increase range of motion.

NIMBLE:

Cross training is great but not every style of movement is right for everyone. We suggest being curious and assess how different ways of moving feels and how your body responds.  We coach our hyper-mobile clients away from yoga and share the benefits of strength training. Our more inflexible clients benefit greatly from a dedicated yoga practice. Pilates helps strengthen postural stabilizing muscles and can improve flexibility and strength.

CHATGPT:

Use proper form and technique during exercise to prevent overstretching or strain on muscles.

NIMBLE:

We coach quality over quantity always. The more we show up and practice, the better our movement skills get. And remember, never train with pain in a joint!

CHATGPT:

Gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts to give your muscles time to adapt and become more flexible.

NIMBLE:

It’s vital to have a program that has progressive loading. Through progressive loading of the body is how we build muscle and train tissue to become more resilient and mobile.

CHATGPT:

Stay hydrated and properly fueled with a balanced diet to support muscle recovery and flexibility.

NIMBLE:

Amen CHATGBT! If we don’t support our training with proper nutrition and hydration, we will miss out on many of the benefits of our committed training. Lowering the amount of sugar, alcohol and processed foods goes a long way! Shift to eating whole foods for every meal and witness what happens. 

CHATGPT:

Listen to your body and take breaks when needed to prevent overexertion and potential injury.

 NIMBLE:

This could have been number one, because, if we don’t listen to the whispers, the body will scream eventually. This does not mean to not work hard. It means we must train smart to have longevity in training and in life.

CHATGPT:

Incorporate foam rolling and massage therapy to help relax and release tight muscles.

 NIMBLE:

Foam rolling and massage is just as much about the facial network and the interstitium as it is muscles.  The interstitium is a newly recognized organ network of fluid-filled cavities found everywhere in your body and is intimate with our fascia. The neural fascial matrix is slightly contractile, hydrated and holds us in posture. It’s important to maintain the healthy glide of fascia which in turn helps have better flexibility and overall functional movement.

CHATGPT:

Allow for proper rest and recovery between workouts to avoid overuse injuries.

NIMBLE:

In Nimble we have a motto; we can only train as hard as we recover.  Have a good program and listening to your body will help you avoid injuries. Plan your rest days and know that they are helping propel you forward reaching your health and fitness goals.

Train smart and get after it in 2024!

Daniel