We all want to live to be 100, but if you’re 100 and miserable, what’s the point? Living a long life is only rewarding if you’re in good health. It’s important to know how to stay flexible as you age.
We’ve all seen the occasional elderly person who’s stooped and unable to straighten, typically because of permanent back stiffness. Often, it’s because that person didn’t work to maintain their flexibility in their earlier years.
Physical flexibility is at the core of your mobility, and subsequently, your quality of life.
How to Stay Flexible as You Age
As we age, our joints stiffen. The spine contracts and becomes more rigid, which can cause us to hunch forward. Pain can result, and pain and stiffness are a terrible combination.
Talk to anyone who’s experienced the discomfort of a “frozen” shoulder, so stiff they can’t move it. Structurally, there’s nothing wrong with the shoulder, but the pain can damage the sufferer’s quality of life. Or, consider someone with a knee replacement who needs a machine to initiate random, periodic movement in the joint to prevent it from stiffening during the early stages of healing.
Early and Often
Can we avoid this invasive stiffness and the pain it brings? Two simple steps will help keep you flexible throughout your adult life.
- Start working on your flexibility early in adulthood. (But remember, it’s never too late to start.)
- Practice flexibility often.
Here are five tips on how to stay flexible as you age:
1. Keep Moving
Avoid all-day sitting. Any simple movement throughout the day helps, from bending over to swinging a golf club. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it has to happen.
2. Take a Class
Many programs — yoga, Pilates, specialty stretch labs — promote improved flexibility. Find one that motivates you, holds you accountable, and gives you a reason to focus on flexibility. Make it a regular part of your routine.
3. Stretch Regularly
“Regularly” means every day. Stretch whenever it fits into your daily schedule.
Most people stretch either in the morning or before bed. It’s also essential to stretch after workouts, when you’ve released endorphins, your muscles are warm, and your blood flow’s enhanced.
4. Stay Hydrated
Dehydration leads to stiffness. Drink fluids without caffeine to keep muscles and tissues hydrated and supple.
5. Keep Your Focus
Stay aware of maintaining your flexibility. On a busy day, it’s easy to forget.
Be Awesome at 80
Without regular movement, poor flexibility worsens until, at a certain point, it’s irreversible.
If you want to be awesome at 80, don’t settle for mediocrity at 50. Use it or lose it! Stay conscious of your overall flexibility, and get moving.
Need help learning how to stay flexible as you age? Our doctors can point you toward healthy, flexible later years. Connect with us for a chat.
