When you think of a healthy life, what do you see?
Maybe you see a person smiling and holding a cup of water. Maybe you imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger – someone with lots of muscles! Perhaps you imagine yourself at the gym or going for a walk with the dog.
When you think of a healthy life, what do you see?
A healthy life looks different for everyone. Broadly though, health is understood in five dimensions. These are what’s known as the ‘Five Dimensions of Holistic Health’:
- Physical
- Emotional
- Social
- Spiritual
- Mental
In this article, we will explore the role of flexibility in living a healthy life.
Maintaining mobility in the body (the ability to move or be moved freely and easily) acts like a puzzle piece in the overall picture of health. It may come as a surprise that this relatively small part of daily life can have large effects on a person’s physical, emotional, social, and mental health.
Particularly for older adults, mobility is important for completing daily activities, remaining involved in hobbies and work, and avoiding falls.
The goal of mobility work is to improve movement in the body – especially in the hips, shoulders, and upper back.
However, separate mobility exercises are not needed for everybody. Those who regularly move their body through its full range in everyday activities may not need additional training to maintain mobility.
So, where should mobility exercises be included in an exercise program?
Research suggests it is usually best to perform stretches after an aerobic workout (walking, cycling, swimming etc) or a strength workout when muscles are warm. This can also be achieved by doing a warm-up. It should ideally consist of slow, gentle movements and avoid sudden jolts or reaches.
There is mixed evidence concerning whether stretching truly helps lower a person’s chance of injury, but many people feel better following a stretching routine.
There is, however, a large and growing body of evidence supporting participation in movement activities such as Tai Chi and Yoga for the improvement of flexibility, balance, and mobility. This is particularly true for older people.
What does all this mean?
Mobility exercises play a small but vital role in living a healthy life.
Maintaining the movement in the body helps to boost physical, mental, and emotional health. Participation in group classes or completing mobility activities alongside others also has positive effects on social health.
Mobility exercises are best completed when the muscles are warm, and the movements should be slow and gentle.
To learn more about the role of stretching in a healthy life, or to develop an everyday stretching and mobility routine of your own, please feel free to contact one of our friendly physios here at The Physio Co.
FURTHER READING:
- Flexibility for seniors: Can we regain it in our 80s?
- Five things seniors can do to help improve their upper limb flexibility
- How to improve leg flexibility: 5 small things you can do today
(Article written by Emily Johnson, TPC Physiotherapist)
References:
Franklin, B. A., Sallis, R. E., & O’Connor, F. G. (2022, March 2). Exercise prescription and guidance for adults. UpToDate. Retrieved September 23, 2022, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/exercise-prescription-and-guidance-for-adults