Health Beat: The Importance of Stretching for Older Adults (Includes Video)

Health Beat is a feature at LGBTSr promoting health and well-being.

By Mark McNease

I’ll confess – I’m not good at taking my own advice when it comes to stretching, but the older I get, the more obvious the need for it becomes. I can feel my muscles, especially in my legs, contracting and in need of get a good stretch. Maybe knowing there’s a problem is the first step in addressing it! This year my objectives including losing 50 pounds, and listening to my body when it speaks to me, which is daily.

Stretching is a simple and effective way to improve our health and well-being, especially for older adults. As we age, we tend to lose flexibility, range of motion, and balance, which can lead to various problems such as pain, stiffness, injury, and reduced mobility. In my case, I was diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome. I’m convinced that stretching would be a better remedy than medication, but for now I’ll do both.

Stretching helps prevent or alleviate a lot of issues we experience in our muscles, joints, and nervous system.

One of the benefits of stretching for older adults is that stretching can reduce low back pain and arthritis, common causes of discomfort and disability among us. Stretching can also help strengthen the core muscles that support the spine, which can help prevent or reduce low back pain. For example, a study by the American College of Sports Medicine found that older adults who participated in a 10-week stretching program reported significant improvements in low back pain, flexibility, and quality of life.

Another benefit of stretching is that it can prevent falls – a major risk factor for injury and mortality among older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four older adults falls each year, and falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. Stretching can help prevent falls by improving balance, coordination, and reaction time, which are essential for maintaining stability and avoiding hazards. Stretching can also help prevent muscle weakness, stiffness, and cramps.

A third benefit of stretching for older adults is that it can improve posture, which can affect our appearance, confidence, and health. As we  age, we lose bone density. Poor posture can lead to a hunched or slouched appearance, and often causes health problems such as neck pain, headaches, breathing difficulties, and digestive issues. Stretching can help improve posture by lengthening and aligning the spine, opening the chest, and relaxing the shoulders and neck.

Getting started it the hardest part, at least for me, but stretching is a simple and effective way to improve our health and well-being as adults of any age. By creating a regular stretching routine, even 20 minutes a day, we can start to enjoy the benefits of this simple but vital part of our health regimen.

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