Adding Flexibility Into Your Daily Routine

Flexibility is an essential component in the holistic physical fitness of an individual. It can be defined as the ease with which a person is able to move a joint through its range of motion. We may not realize it, but flexibility is required in all of our day to day activities such as bending walking and lifting. As one ages,muscles and joints tend to become stiffer. This affects movement and if left unaddressed, can lead to a loss of flexibility over time. Flexibility helps to preserve the range of motion of muscles and joints. It is the loss of tissue elasticity that can cause muscles and joints to tighten up. Flexibility training is an important part of living a full and healthy life.

  One can reap the benefits of flexibility training at every age. It helps to improve agility and mobility. Being flexible also provides relief from pain, soreness and stiffness in muscles while carrying out everyday tasks and can help to achieve better posture while lowering the risk of injury. It has also been found to have positive benefits on one’s physical and mental well-being.

Stretching & Flexibility

Stretching goes a long way in improving the flexibility of an individual because it helps relax muscles. The more flexible your pelvic muscles. hamstrings, hip flexors and quadriceps, the less stress to your lower back so. while stretching, so be mindful to work those larger muscle groups.

Some Tips for Adding Flexibility Into Your Daily Routine

• Many seniors are prone to a number of illnesses. Some of which are chronic in nature. Neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, pulmonary and cardiovascular illnesses.
• Always incorporate stretching into your strength training practice and add cardiovascular exercise like walking jogging cycling or swimming to strengthen and tone muscles.

 

To retain the natural suppleness of muscles as we grow older and remain agile, at any age, incorporate flexibility into your daily lives. Apart from stretching before and after an exercise routine; there are stretching exercises one can incorporate into their fitness regime. Speak to your Physical Therapist about optimizing your flexibility and incorporating it safely into your daily lives. Remain flexible and pain free!