Pierre Vallières and Flexibility (disambiguation): Difference between pages

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[[Image:Pierre_vallières.jpeg|thumb|right|237px|Pierre Vallières]]

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'''Flexibility''' is the popular term for the ability to easily [[bend]] an [[Object (physics)|object]] or the ability to adapt to different circumstances. However, in various professional fields, more precise terms are used.

There is a lot of speculation about flexibility . Where does it come from ? How does it reproduce ? What is it`s habitat and more. Flexibility is a small, almost microscopic animal that you can barely see, so don`t listen to of any of this bullshit. Whoever wrote this is no better than a graffiti-ist. Go and do a painting instead.

'''Pierre Vallières''' ([[February 22]] [[1938]] – [[December 23]] [[1998]]) was born in the east end of [[Montreal]]. He was a journalist and writer of militantly polemical essays and books in support of Quebec independence.

==Physiology==

In [[1966]] he became the ideological leader of the [[FLQ]] terrorist organization and conducted a hunger strike at the [[United Nations|UN]] headquarters in [[New York City]] to protest what he considered to be Quebec's plight. While there, he was arrested and convicted of [[manslaughter]] (but later acquitted in a second trial in [[1970]]). During his four years' imprisonment in New York, he wrote a number of works, the most famous (or perhaps notorious) of which was ''Nègres blancs d'Amérique''. This book compared the situation of Québécois to that of African-Americans at the height of the latter's [[civil rights]] struggles. He also called for armed struggle.

In the [[physiology]] of vertebrates, including humans, the measurement of the achievable distance between the flexed position and the extended position of a particular [[joint]] or muscle group is called its "flexibility", but this is more properly called its [[range of motion]] or range of movement. In this sense, the flexibility of a joint depends on many factors, particularly the length and looseness of the [[muscle]]s and [[ligament]]s due to normal human variation, and the shape of the [[bone]]s and [[cartilage]] that make up the joint.

Flexibility, or suppleness, is also a more generalized term used to compare the relative range of motion of all joints of an individual with a standard. The ability to achieve a full range of movements – to turn, stretch, twist and bend – without any stiffness, aching or suffering a spine or joint injury is defined as [http://www.healthy-body-healthy-mind.com/how-to-build-suppleness/ suppleness].

Vallières returned to [[Montreal]] not long after the events of the [[October Crisis]] and renounced violence as a means to achieve Quebec [[Quebec Sovereignism|independence]], resuming his career as a journalist, writer, and publisher. He was also [[gay]] and spent his last few years living in Montreal's gay district.

Medical conditions such as [[arthritis]] can decrease flexibility, while [[Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome]] can increase flexibility. Exercise increases the amount of flexibility in a joint, while decreasing the amount of resistance.

He died of heart failure.

Those who practice [[gymnastics]] (especially [[rhythmic gymnastics]]), [[dance]], [[figure skating]], [[martial arts]], [[body toning]], [[yoga]], [[cheerleading]] and [[contortion]] rely on functional flexibility (increased range of motion with strength and control) to perform their actions.

===Benefits===

Suppleness or flexibility is an important part of a healthful life. Being supple means that you can reach up to take an item down from a bookshelf, for example, or bend down to tie your shoe laces, without feeling that your movements are restricted in any way. When you are young, you tend to take suppleness for granted. But as and when you start growing older, you need to spend a bit of time enhancing and maintaining your suppleness.

Anyone can start a daily routine of simple stretches at any age to restore or increase that flexibility to your muscles as well as joints. Some studies show that you are never too old to reverse the reduced level of suppleness that comes with the age. It really doesn’t matter as to how long it has been building up.

===How To Achieve Flexibility===

Flexibility can be temporarily increased by regular [[stretching]] of the muscles either by performing specific exercises or by actively participating in activities that take the joints through their full range of movement and lengthens the muscles. Muscles are wrapped in connective tissues, which, rather like chewing gum, are resistant to being stretched when cold. For this specific reason, it is very important to attempt stretching exercises only when your muscles are warm. When stretching, a slight degree of tension should be felt in the muscle. Attempting to stretch too far may cause physical discomfort or even pain and can further result in an injury. So in order to maintain your suppleness, stretches need to be held for at least 10-40 seconds which gives connective tissues enough time to lengthen.

Stretching regularly can result in flexibility that is retained for as long as 48 hours, depending on the duration and depth (effective relaxation) of the stretch. This component is important to avoid injuries during leisure activities{{Fact|date=February 2007}}.

===Relative flexibility===

Since muscles which go through grow in size but not in length, when one muscle grows through hypertrophy its opposite side muscle (the antagonist) will have to lengthen, and absolute flexibility is the term to describe a muscle's length, in and of itself, where relative flexibility is the flexibility of a joint, as compared to its antagonistic movement<ref>[http://www.chekinstitute.com/articles.cfm?select=73 "Back to the Basics for the New Year"], by Paul Chek</ref>.

For example, the [[calf muscle]] extends the foot towards the [[ground]] ([[plantarflexion]]) and the [[anterior tibialis|shin muscle]] flexes the foot in the opposite direction ([[dorsiflexion]]).

If a person's calf is [[tonic (physiology)|overly strong]] it will not be as flexible as the opposite shin muscle, and plantarflexion will be exhibit relatively inflexible as compared to dorsiflexion using the person's [[phasic (physiology)|weaker]], but more flexible shin muscle.

==Systems theory==

In [[systems theory]], which has applications in diverse fields including biology, ecology, psychology, economics, and management, the flexibility of a [[adaptive system|system]] is related to its [[adaptation]] to a new environment or its [[resilience]] in recovering from a shock or disturbance.

One example is the attribute of [[Flexibility (engineering)|flexibility]] in engineering.'''''Italic text''

==References==

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