09/14/2024
Let’s talk about mobility and aging!
People as young as thirty start using that popular phrase “well I’m getting old” when they start noticing chronic back pain, hip pain, or neck and shoulder pain. Unfortunately we tend to ignore these early indications of lack of mobility and pass them off as a normal side effect of aging.
Pain, decreased flexibility, stiffness, and deacreased range of motion are not symptoms of aging! These are symptoms of lack of mobility and activity.
Massage, diet, postural correction, and a strength training routine can make a world of difference in how you experience your golden years. It’s never to early to think about how our bodies will function in our old age. In fact, the earlier you develop an active lifestyle the easier it is to maintain. The age old saying is true “use it or lose it”. The pain and discomfort we start to notice in our 30s and 40s will escalate to debilitating loss of mobility as we age if we don’t take the time to correct simple things like postural habits, or to practice easy everyday movements like getting up from a seated position. A 30 minute walk a day can add years to your mobile ability as you age.
Most decreased mobility in aging stems from muscle atrophy. As we become less active our bodies can’t maintain muscle mass, eventually leading to loss of strength and flexibility. As we lose our strength and flexibility it becomes more painful and we have to exert more energy to get up and get around. What starts as a little back pain when you move a certain way in your thirties, becomes your back going out periodically in your fourties and fifties, eventually leading to an inability to walk without a walker, or at all, in your sixties and seventies.
Addressing pain and discomfort in early stages by correcting bad habits, building new routines, and supporting your body through that transition can make all the difference in how you experience aging. Don’t wait until it’s too late to address pain and discomfort. Your body is worth investing in!
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