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The effect of eight weeks of flexibility training on step length, range of motion, and balance of middle-aged men and women with ectomorph and endomorph body types

Shadi Pourebrahim Ahvazi, Haydar Sadeghi and Mandana Gholami

Since flexibility training can increase range of motion and prevent joint stiffness, the purpose of the present research was to examine the effect of eight weeks of flexibility training on step length, range of motion, and balance of middle-aged men and women with ectomorph and endomorph body types. 48 healthy, middle-aged men and women (40-60 years of age) volunteered for the study. Using Heath-Carter method of somatotyping, the participants were divided into Ectomorph (12 men and 12 women; 55.5 ± 2.6 yrs.; weight of 72.5 ± 3.3 kg; height of 170.1 ± 0.04 cm; BMI of 25.40 ± 3.3 kg/m²) and Endomorph (12 men and 12 women; 53.2 ± 2.4 yrs.; weight of 80.2 ± 2.1 kg; height of 167.8 ± 1.1 cm; BMI of 30.51 ± 2.5 kg/m²) groups. Both groups participated in a flexibility training program for eight weeks, with three 30-minute sessions per week. The exercises focused on upper and lower body flexor and extensor muscles. Step length, range of motion, and dynamic balance were measured, and T-test was used for data analysis at the 0.05 significance level. There were no significant differences between the Ectomorph and Endomorph groups in the pre-test. However, significant post-test differences were observed between the two groups in step length, range of motion, and dynamic balance. The results showed that step length, range of motion, and balance were affected by somatotype. Therefore, body type must be accounted for in prescribing flexibility exercises for middle-aged people.