Limber for Life

 

We all know that being fit is important for every stage of life. Whether you swim, walk, play pickleball, or garden, moving your body helps keep everything in working order and is a key component of your 100 Year Lifestyle. However, many people don’t realize that flexibility is part of being fit and crucial to healthy longevity. Everyone needs to be limber for life.

A recent study examined the relationship between flexibility and longevity. The study, which looked at 3,000 people over a period of 28 years, determined that people with greater flexibility tended to live longer than people who weren’t flexible. How flexible are you?

Overall Health

As we age, maintaining flexibility becomes increasingly crucial for overall health and well-being. Flexibility is the ability of our muscles and joints to move through their full range of motion. It affects balance, posture, and the ability to perform everyday activities with ease. Being flexible promotes good health in several ways.

First, it reduces injury risk. Flexible joints and muscles can manage physical stress better, minimizing strains and falls. Second, it leads to better posture. Good flexibility helps improve body alignment and posture, preventing back pain and discomfort. Flexibility enhances circulation by promoting blood flow to muscles and tissues, supporting overall body function and recovery. Lastly, flexibility can lead to improved mental health by reducing pain and stiffness and allowing participation in exercises like yoga which encourage relaxation and reduce stress.

 Chiropractic Care and Flexibility

Achieving, maintaining and maximizing your flexibility requires proper alignment of the spine and joints. Studies have shown that chiropractic care improves flexibility and range of motion. This alignment not only helps you achieve greater flexibility but also plays a key role in preventing injuries during stretching.

Chiropractors achieve these improvements through spinal adjustments and manipulations, which focus on realigning the joints, bones, and muscles. This process helps restore normal function, reduce pain, and improve overall movement. Chiropractic care is not only effective for the spine but also for other joints throughout the body.

Regular chiropractic adjustments ensure that your body is functioning as intended, reducing inflammation and allowing you to stretch more effectively and without pain. Consistent chiropractic care can accelerate your progress toward flexibility goals and ensure that you are stretching safely, even if you have pre-existing conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, or joint injuries.

Other 100 Year Lifestyle® Components

Once you and your 100 Year Lifestyle Chiropractor® are working together to maximize your healthy longevity, you will be able to add stretching, activities like yoga and Pilates, and physical activity such as walking, swimming, or cycling into your routine to stay mobile and enjoy life!

Remember to always warm up your muscles with light aerobic activity before engaging in more intensive exercise or stretching. This helps prevent injuries and improves the effectiveness of your stretching routine.

Also, listen to your body! Flexibility varies from person to person and it’s important not to push yourself too hard. Stretch to the point of mild tension, not pain, and gradually increase the intensity as your flexibility improves.

By focusing on flexibility, older adults can enhance their mobility, reduce pain, and maintain their independence and quality of life. Incorporating regular stretching and flexibility exercises into your routine is a simple yet effective way to support healthy aging.

Get Help

As always, you’re not alone in your journey to healthy longevity. There is a 100 Year Lifestyle Chiropractor® ready to help you every step of the way. Make an appointment today! It’s never too early—or too late—to take care of your most valuable possession, your health!