Does T affect flexibility?

[makipu]

I was wondering if being on T can affect a person's body flexibility. Is it possible for them to lose a bit of it since they're gaining muscles?

[Sebryn]

I'd say this depends on many factors. I am more flexible than I was before...but...I work out more than I did before. I started doing things like tai chi and yoga after I started T and weight lifting. I recently started running and swimming again after top surgery and I notice that my flexibility is beginning to get to where it was before I stopped doing these kinds of things due to dysphoria kicking my butt and the binder.

[Kreuzfidel]

Just being on T doesn't increase your muscles to the point that you're going to be Hercules with bulging triceps - not unless you're working on bulking up.  I would say that it doesn't affect your flexibility on its own - for better or worse.

[Jack_M]

My flexibility is constantly being improved upon with my Taekwon-Do training and nothing has hindered that by being on T. I'm not only a martial artist, I'm a cyclist, so my legs are beasts! I'm currently trying to limit lower body workouts in hopes of letting my top half catch up! So muscle development doesn't matter. Look at Jean Claude Van Damme, he can do insane splits beyond 180 degrees and he's got legs that are beasts. Scott Adkins is another fine example. He's an all over tank with insane flexibility.

I'm fairly sure flexibility only dissapates when you're not working on it to at least maintain. I can't see T making a difference unless you work hard to bulk up your legs while not working on flexibility. But then the same would still happen if you weren't taking T, just possibly at a lesser extent.

[ChaoticTribe]

Your flexibility will not decrease on testosterone just from having the hormone in your body.

Having larger muscles can result in having wider shoulders and that can make it feel like you're less flexible when you can't reach quite as many places on your back as easily as before (such as when you have an itch or are washing) but this is simply a matter of your joints having a limited range of motion and there being an increase in distance.

If you've had even a small amount of fat move from your butt, legs, or even just the bit of 'softness' in a tiny layer under your skin then it typically goes where males carry it - to your belly. Your stomach can look nice and flat (as does mine) but still have a tiny layer of fat over the abs and a tiny bit of fat under them in the organ area. I have people all the time telling me I 'need to eat more' but at the same time I'm thinking no way in the world, because the new fat distribution makes it feel different when I touch my toes or exercise my abs - and not different in a good way. Yet I am still ABLE to get into every position I could before, so I know even after 2 years I am not less flexible.