Along with eating right, staying active, and getting enough sleep, maintaining your mobility is essential to staying healthy. Maintaining mobility doesn’t mean you need to exercise strenuously or run marathons. Instead, it means living an active lifestyle that will help you feel better with everyday movements and continue to enjoy your favorite hobbies and activities.

Five Ways to Maintain Mobility As You Age

September is Healthy Aging Month, which was launched to promote awareness among an aging Baby Boomer population. So, to practice healthy aging, here are five tips to help you maintain lifelong mobility.

Stretch

As we age, stretching becomes increasingly important for our mobility and muscle recovery. It helps your body stay flexible and offers a greater range of movement in your joints.

An alternate to stretching is using a foam roller. Foam rolling loosens fascia tissue, which prevents injury and helps you stay mobile.

Take a Daily Walk

Walking is a low-impact exercise that not only helps you physically, but it’s also beneficial for your mental health. If you sometimes lose your balance, start by walking around your home. Even short walks throughout the day stretch muscles and help maintain mobility.

Try Low Impact Cardio

Cardio exercise promotes a healthy heart and cardiovascular system, which increases longevity and keeps you mobile longer. Low-impact cardio exercises include water aerobics, swimming, and biking.

Swimming keeps the pressure off your joints while keeping your heart rate up. Indoor cycling improves endurance, lowers blood pressure, and strengthens your legs and hips, which are important muscles for mobility.

Build Muscle Strength

Strength training builds and preserves muscle mass. It doesn’t mean you need to become a bodybuilder – light resistance training with bands or using your body weight are safe ways to build strength over time.

Also, you can try using light dumbbells to tone and strengthen your muscles. Simple bicep curls and arm raises help build muscle mass and improve coordination, which is essential for mobility.

Consult your doctor before you start strength training or other exercise programs to discuss the proper exercise regimen for you.

Practice Proper Posture

Poor posture is common among older adults and can make staying mobile difficult. Slouching overworks your neck and back muscles, leading to neck and shoulder strain, back pain, and even joint damage.

Do your best to sit up straight without flexing your back too far forward and backward. This helps prevent your spine from misaligning and avoids wear-and-tear on your spinal discs. Maintaining good posture also strengthens your core, which further prevents injury and keeps you mobile.

Family Resource Home Care Helps Seniors Remain Healthy at Home

Family Resource Home Care proudly serves communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. We offer in-home care services in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Arlington, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima, Boise, the Palouse, and the surrounding areas.

Contact us today to learn about our personalized services. Our friendly, compassionate caregivers are dedicated to helping older adults age in place safely and with dignity.