YOGA

This ancient practice involves posture and breathing exercises that improve flexibility. Manchester United stalwart Ryan Giggs credited yoga with helping him play on into his 40s – and a study last year illustrated exactly how it can aid physical performance. Twenty-six participants went through a 10-week yoga programme that featured two sessions each week, and all of them displayed a significant improvement to their flexibility and balance when performing a range of movements after the programme, compared to their efforts prior to the study. Make it a part of your training regime and you might be able to extend your playing days.

1 “Being supple boosts speed, recovery and sharpness of movement, and yoga improves all of these,” said Giggs’ yoga teacher, Sarah Ramsden.

2 “Stiff through your hips? It means you could later develop some lower back problems, so doing yoga will help you to get over this problem.”

3 “Yoga helps you to transfer power through the core, so you’ll move freely and avoid any injuries caused from muscle imbalance.”

FFT dusts down the exercise mat to learn which limb-loosening practice is most effective for boosting flexibility