Can certain exercises help with flexbility?

Question

Rather than simply just stretching, can exercises help to improve flexibility too?

So two examples I'm thinking of are:

1. Romanian deadlifts to improve hamstring flexibility
2. Chest flys to improve chest flexibility

These are two areas that are very tight for me, and I feel like doing stretches only gets me so far... when I do exercises like the above, I does feel like I'm getting a good stretch as I'm doing them, but I may just be imagining it.

Answer 1

Yes, full range of motion resistance training can increase flexibility.

Morton, S. K., Whitehead, J. R., Brinkert, R. H., & Caine, D. J. (2011). Resistance Training vs. Static Stretching: Effects on Flexibility and Strength. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(12), 3391–3398. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e31821624aa

Leite, T. B., Costa, P. B., Leite, R. D., Novaes, J. S., Fleck, S. J., & Simão, R. (2017). Effects of Different Number of Sets of Resistance Training on Flexibility. International journal of exercise science, 10(3), 354–364.

Santos, E., Rhea, M. R., Simão, R., Dias, I., de Salles, B. F., Novaes, J., Leite, T., Blair, J. C., & Bunker, D. J. (2010). Influence of Moderately Intense Strength Training on Flexibility in Sedentary Young Women. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(11), 3144–3149. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181e38027