Stretching for Seniors
As far as stretching goes, the methods are not too complicated and the 4 shown below are effective. Seniors may wish to give the different methods a try, but they should be aware of their limitations before engaging in dynamic stretching.
The key to benefiting from stretching is to do short sessions often, rather than long sessions once or twice a week. As a senior, short 5-minute stretches done about 3 or 4 times a day will keep you more limber than a 45-minute yoga session that you do once a week.
Bearing that in mind, let’s look at the 4 most common and effective types of stretching.
1 – Static Stretching
This is without a doubt the best style of stretching for seniors. Static stretching is about stretching a muscle to the point where you feel mild discomfort and holding that stretch for about 20 seconds to a minute. Continue reading
The importance of having a proper stretching routine cannot be overstated. Stretching effectively is not about doing a few leg swings and torso twists and calling it a day.
Some seniors like to swing their arms purposefully and exaggeratedly back and forth during their brisk walks thinking that this improves their flexibility when in reality, it really doesn’t do that much for them other than making them look crazy.
Becoming more flexible and limber requires a more methodical approach. In this article, we’ll look at how to structure a stretching routine that most seniors will be able to follow.
Warming Up
Before doing any stretch, it’s important to warm up the body with some cardiovascular activity. This is especially true when you’re stretching after waking up. Continue reading
