How good mobility can keep you healthy after 30, and the best exercises to help you
Mobility exercises strengthen your muscles, increase your range of motion, and help you stay healthy in body and mind as you get older
As people age, it is not uncommon for many to let out a muted groan when getting out of bed in the morning.
But if you “oof” every time you get in a car or “aargh” while bending over to pick up something, it may be time to prioritise exercises that target your mobility.
Dr Miho Tanaka, a sports medicine surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in the US, said good mobility is recognised as an important part of overall health. She pointed to research showing that high mobility has long-term effects in reducing rates of cancer,
cardiovascular disease, dementia and depression.
“It’s not just about how you look and how your level of fitness is at any given point,” Tanaka said. “For anyone who wants to stay active later in life, there has to be a deliberate process of maintaining that level of activity by doing mobility exercises.”
Mobility equals strength plus flexibility
Mobility and flexibility are often confused, said Jessica Valant, a physical therapist and Pilates instructor near Denver, in the US state of Colorado.
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