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Published on: Advice

Staying Active! Mobility Exercises for the Elderly

Staying active is important for our health, particularly as we age. The loss of mobility can have significant social, psychological and physical consequences.

However, immobility can be prevented by regular physical activity and exercise, even if it’s only light movements for short periods of time.

What Sort of Exercises Should I Be Doing?

The NHS recommends that over-65s should aim to be active every day, choosing activities that improve strength, balance and flexibility. This should be coupled with the aim of reducing time spent lying down or not moving.

However, it is important to note that everyone is different, and you should never partake in any exercises or activities that may cause you long-term harm or pain.

Light Activity

If you struggle with your mobility, then it is recommended that you should still try to partake in light activity, rather than sitting or lying down for long periods of time.

Light activity includes:

  • Standing up
  • Making the bed
  • Making a cup of tea or something to eat
  • Cleaning, dusting or vacuuming
  • Walking around your home


Flexibility Exercises

Sometimes, turning your neck or getting out of a chair can feel like a struggle and this can get progressively worse as we get older. Maintaining your flexibility is key to overcoming this struggle and ensuring that you are not as limited by your muscle strength.

Stretching is an easy and effective way of maintaining flexibility and allowing for better posture. It also helps the movement in joints, releases muscle tension and can reduce the risk of injury.

If you want to become more flexible, there are some stretching exercises you can do to make sure you get your muscles moving and feel much better in your own skin.

Stretching your arms, neck, back, hips and legs will help you maintain your flexibility and keep you limber for longer.

Stretching tips:

  • Never forget to warm up before stretching – you can simply walk on the spot.
  • Take a deep breath and slowly exhale whilst you stretch your arms, legs or whichever part of the body you are working on.
  • Stretching can be done whilst sitting down, just keep your legs and arms moving.
  • Hold each stretch for 30 seconds to give yourself enough time to feel the benefits.


Why Change Your Exercises?

Changing up your exercises can prevent the overuse of specific muscles and give new ones the chance to be used. It also means that you’ll be far more interested in partaking in exercises as you can choose from a wide variety of routines.

How Can Minster Home Care Help You?

Minster Home Care, our experienced and compassionate carers fully encourage the people they care for to keep as physically fit and active as possible. Moving around the house and partaking in exercises as much as they can is hugely beneficial in the long run. We notice for many of the people we care for that regular exercise has boosted their mood, kept them sociable and allowed them to maintain their independence.

To find out more about how we can help you or your loved one and to find the right care package that suits you, contact us today.