With age, our bodies experience natural changes in muscle strength, joint flexibility, and balance. This may make it harder to get out of bed, bend, or move in other ways. As people age, they may experience physical decline, but they do not have to lose mobility.

While there are some age-related physical changes that cannot be prevented, it is very important to note that losing mobility as we grow older is NOT a natural part of aging.

Staying active, injury free and independent in your older years is very important. By keeping your range of motion, improving your strength, looking after your health, and implementing chiropractic care when appropriate, you can continue to do all of the things that you enjoy doing.

How Does Aging Affect Your Mobility?

When we talk about mobility we’re referring to the ability to move freely and comfortably in all activities. Mobility is a function of the muscles, joints, skeleton and nervous system.

With aging, there is a natural decrease in muscle mass and strength, increased stiffness in joints, and decreased balance. These factors can impact a person’s mobility and ability to perform daily activities. Stiffness, caused by arthritis, or pain in the back can also cause people to avoid certain activities.

Why Is Maintaining Mobility So Important as You Age?

1. Reducing the Risk of Falls

Maintaining mobility may also help prevent falling. While falls can occur for anyone, seniors are at a greater risk of falling and suffering injury from that fall. Maintaining balance, strengthening joints and surrounding muscles, and completing activities that challenge balance can help. 

Learning new ways to cope with fall risks can also help you avoid falls and remain active as you grow older. The CDC recommends adults 65 years and older engage in regular physical activity, including balance exercises.

2. Maintaining Independence in Everyday Activities

Maintaining mobility is key to maintaining independence as we age. Routine activities that require mobility to perform tasks can be going to the store to buy groceries, going out to dinner, dressing, bathing, etc.

Aging joints can become stiffer, weaker and even more painful, and all of these problems can make normal daily activities more difficult to complete. Keep your range of motion and strengthen your body to keep your daily activities to your strength.

3. Supporting Physical and Social Wellness

Mobility is important to your quality of life as well. As people get older, many tend to avoid activities that require physical exertion. When movement becomes uncomfortable, they also tend to stop exercising, avoid time with friends and family, and cease to participate in activities and hobbies that once brought so much joy and fulfillment to their lives.

Remaining mobile means you’re able to continue to participate in activities that will promote your physical and social well being. Gardening, short walks, travel, and playing with the grandchildren are just a few examples of activities which help to keep older adults physically active and mentally stimulated.

How Chiropractic Care May Support Mobility in Older Adults

Many older adults experience joint stiffness, chronic pain, and reduction in range of motion as they grow older. When discomfort is felt in the spine and surrounding muscles and joints, chiropractic care can be part of a broader strategy to manage mobility.

Specific strategies, such as spinal manipulation and physical activity recommendations, can also be helpful in improving mobility in older people. Other strategies to consider are fall prevention strategies and ways to manage musculoskeletal pain.

• Joint stiffness and range of motion: There are manual therapies used in chiropractic care that are appropriate to treat joint stiffness and help increase movement to joints.
• Back and neck pain: Relief from chronic pain enables you to move comfortably through your daily activities.
• Arthritis discomfort: Non-invasive methods like chiropractic care can alleviate the musculoskeletal pain of arthritis sufferers, even though there isn’t a cure to reverse the joint damage of arthritis.
• Movement and balance: Identify limitations of movement and exercise accordingly. Focus on balance training and also enhancing the strength of the muscles to ensure that you can move around safely without falling.

Chiropractic care can be modified for individuals with a variety of health conditions including those with osteoporosis. Here at Sentinel Health & Wellness, we believe that each individual has unique health needs and strive to develop the best treatment plan for each of our patients.

Simple Ways to Maintain Mobility as You Age

You don’t have to start doing 100 reps of intense exercise to start to improve your mobility. Small changes to your daily activity to help increase flexibility, strengthen your muscles, and maintain range of motion can be very helpful.

Stay Physically Active: Simple walking, swimming and other low impact exercise can maintain mobility of your joints while minimizing wear and tear on your body.

Practice Gentle Stretching: Regular stretching can help maintain flexibility and support your range of motion.

Simple Strength Training for Improved Mobility: Include activities in your routine to build strength in your joints and to practice your balance so you can remain active and avoid falls.

Honor Persistent Aches and Pains: Don’t write off persistent discomfort or significant stiffness and pain as normal aging. Seek medical attention to discover possible causes of discomfort and attain proper care.

The CDC recommendations for physical activity in adults aged 65 years and older include at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or activity equivalent to walking about 3 miles/hour in duration per week. 

In addition to aerobic activity, adults aged 65 years and older should engage in muscle-strengthening activity on 2 or more days per week. Balance exercises should also be included as part of overall physical activity. Activity can be modified to accommodate chronic health conditions or physical limitations.

Stay Active and Independent with Sentinel Health & Wellness

Aging is a natural process that occurs as we grow older. Everyone experiences aging. Helping patients maintain their joint health, relieving pain, and building strength to remain active are aspects of Sentinel Health & Wellness’ approach to chiropractic care.

Sentinel Health & Wellness serves patients of all ages that suffer from joint stiffness and chronic pain that prevents them from participating in activities that they love to do. Schedule an appointment today to learn more about how chiropractic care can help you in your quest for health and mobility.