What Hopscotch Knew About Healthy Aging

As I prepare for my next virtual course on fascia, myofascial release, and movement, I’ve been deep down the rabbit hole of fascia research. One researcher whose work I keep returning to is Robert Schleip, one of the world’s leading fascia scientists and a major reason fascia is now being taken seriously within both movement and medical communities.

A significant focus of Schleip’s work has been the elastic properties of fascia and connective tissue, particularly how structures like tendons can store and release energy to make movement more efficient. To illustrate this concept, he often points to one of nature’s most impressive movers: the kangaroo.

Kangaroos are incredibly efficient movers because their tendons act like giant elastic springs. When they land, those tendons store energy. When they push off, that energy is released, helping propel them forward with surprisingly little muscular effort. The faster they hop, the more they rely on this spring-like system.

Humans have our own version of this built in. Structures like the Achilles tendon can store and release energy every time we walk, run, skip, hop, jump, or climb stairs. In many ways, our tendons function like biological rubber bands, helping us move more efficiently while reducing the workload on our muscles.

What fascinates me most about Schleip’s work is his suggestion that healthy aging isn’t just about maintaining strength or flexibility. It’s also about maintaining elasticity.

And if we’re being honest, most of us had plenty of elasticity as kids. We spent recess playing hopscotch, jumping rope, skipping across playgrounds, leaping off large structures (sorry, mom!), and inventing games that involved bouncing for absolutely no reason. Then adulthood arrived and somewhere between emails, carpools, mortgages, and streaming our favorite TV shows, many of us quietly stopped springing.

The good news? Elasticity appears to be trainable!

You don’t need to become a competitive athlete. Brisk walking, hiking uneven trails, dancing in the kitchen, playing tag with your kids, jumping rope, running, recreational sports, or even a few playful hops while waiting for your coffee can expose your connective tissues to the kind of loading they were designed for.

Strength matters. Flexibility matters. But according to Schleip’s work, one of the most overlooked ingredients in a longevity-focused movement practice might simply be preserving our spring.

So maybe the next time you’re walking your child into school, don’t just walk behind them carrying their backpack and water bottle. Skip a few steps. Pretend the cracks are hot lava. And race them to the corner. Your Achilles tendon just might thank you. :)

- Shae