Remember the ‘good ole days’ when you could fall asleep and wake the next morning without having injured your neck or back while unconscious? Or when you could sit for several hours and then stand without your knees sounding like a percussion band? At some point, typically as we enter our 50s, we realize that we may need some tools to help us stay flexible and maintain stability as we move into our later decades.
Roll it out
A tool that is often used by athletes and in physical therapy offices is the foam roller, which you can find in various widths and lengths both online and in local stores. These inexpensive tools can make a world of positive difference in how our body feels. “As we age, our tissue gets stiffer,” says Blake LeBlanc, an athletic trainer for Norton Sports Health. “Foam rollers provide a means of self-induced myofascial release, helping separate the layers of tissue that begin to adhere to each other.” They also help promote blood circulation, he adds.
“The best thing about foam rolling is that it’s not time-consuming,” Blake continues. “Ideally, spending less than one minute per muscle group is appropriate.” Of course, it is important to remember that foam rollers should be used on soft tissue, not bones or joints.
Stretch for strength
Another useful tool is the exercise band. These have several benefits over free weights or weight machines when it comes to strength training. “Exercise bands are cheaper, require less space for storage, and less equipment for progressing as you get stronger,” Blake says.
Exercise bands can easily be packed into luggage if you travel for fun or work. But another benefit of an exercise band is that they can be used for flexibility, which becomes even more important as we age. “Bands can be used for proprioception training, thus improving balance and stability in movements, and thick bands can assist with flexibility and stretching,” Blake says.
Take a hike
While many of us have seen or used these two gadgets, either on our own or actually doing physical therapy, most people haven’t discovered the benefits of hiking poles. If the last thing on Earth you want to do is take a hike in the woods and climb boulders, hiking poles can offer exceptional benefits just being used around your neighborhood. “Hiking poles are great to assist with balance, which may be what is keeping someone from getting out and walking,” Blake says. “They are great in promoting a full-body workout while you walk, and [they] take pressure off the joints of the lower body.”
By Carrie Vittitoe
P.S. You may also be interested in this article: Keeping An Eye On The Situation.
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