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For athletes in sports like dance, gymnastics, cheer, figure skating, martial arts, and other activities that require significant flexibility, being able to move through a large range of motion can feel like an advantage. And it can be. But when the goal becomes "How far can I stretch?" rather than "How much range can I safely control?", stretching can start to become counterproductive.
In dance and artistic sports, flexibility is often one of the most celebrated physical traits. High extensions, deep backbends, oversplits, and dramatic lines are frequently associated with strong technique and advanced ability. But flexibility and mobility are not the same thing and understanding the difference can completely change how dancers train.
