How often should flexibility exercises be performed to maintain gains?

Flexibility exercises should ideally be performed 2-3 times per week to maintain gains in flexibility. This frequency allows for sufficient stimulation of the muscles and connective tissues, promoting continued adaptations in flexibility. Maintaining flexibility is important not only for range of motion and performance but also for preventing injuries and enhancing overall physical function.

When flexibility exercises are performed within this frequency range, they benefit from consistency while also allowing adequate recovery time for the tissues involved. Performing flexibility exercises too infrequently, such as once a week, may not be sufficient to sustain the improvements achieved, as flexibility can diminish over time without regular practice. Conversely, daily stretching, while beneficial for some individuals, is not always necessary for maintaining flexibility gains and can lead to overstretching or fatigue in some cases. Stretching once a month is insufficient for maintaining flexibility, as the gains achieved are likely to regress significantly due to the lack of consistent stimulus.