Moving more freely can add years to your life. Closer shares five exercises for better mobility.
STRETCH IT
“Many different stretches and activities can improve your flexibility and mobility,” say the folks at Banner Health. “Static stretching is what many people think of when they think of stretching. It’s when you hold a stretch for a while. Dynamic stretching is [the type of] stretching where you move through your range of motion.”
BULK UP
According to Harvard Medical School, “building your muscle strength can improve mobility at all ages and fitness levels. The best way to increase strength is through weight training using dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, medicine balls, weight machines, and even your own body weight.”
WALK ON
“Walking is a basic yet essential functional movement that engages the entire body and helps maintain overall mobility,” say experts at London’s Educate Fitness. “Walking variations, such as brisk walking and lunges, [can also] provide cardiovascular benefits and enhance lower body
strength and endurance.”
CYCLE UP
Mobility is about your joints moving in a full, pain-free range of motion, so outdoors or indoors, “cycling is one of the most effective workouts,” says the Arthritis Foundation. “It’s low-impact, so you get a good workout without pounding on joints, and it strengthens muscles that help support knees, ankles and feet.”
IN THE SWIM
“As a low-impact activity, swimming places minimal stress on the joints,” explains Sarah Ellison, an aquatic physical therapist with Boston’s Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. “The buoyancy of the water allows you to move limbs and joints more easily through their normal range of motion. This helps joints remain supple and improves overall flexibility.”
