Flexibility is often a goal in and of itself. Being able to take a joint through its full range of motion gives us more freedom of movement. Relaxing tight muscles feels good and balances the body.

Stretching is overwhelmingly recommended - even prescribed - by sports medicine professionals and is widely practised by athletes in almost every sport. It seems to be one of those common sense things to do. But there are as many unanswered questions about stretching as there are scientific facts to support it.

 but the picture is not as clear as most people would like. The research suggests that stretching programmes should be individualised according to the client's physical make-up and level of conditioning. That's why a stretching routines should be designed by a fitness profesional.