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Writer's pictureDr. Karen Proctor

Age is Just a Number




Have you ever found yourself feeling like you're 90 years old, despite the fact that your true age is actually less than half that number? It's a common experience, one that many of us can relate to.  In our minds, we still feel like we're in our 20s, capable of running, throwing, jumping, and lifting without a second thought. But sometimes, the reality is a stark contrast to our mental image. Activities that were once effortless now leave us with overstrained hamstrings, pulled shoulders, and stiff hips. It's a puzzling shift, isn't it?  


Yes, of course, the obvious factor is that we have aged but with so many people who are older and definitely more active, where have we gone wrong?  Barring illness or specific injury that would pose its own limitations, most of us suffer from a lack of flexibility.  Flexibility is usually the first thing to go as we enter adulthood simply because we spend less time physically exercising and stretching.  As we continue to age and enter our 40s, our body does not produce as much collagen and elastin which are the components that give us our natural flexibility.   Our lifestyles which could also include limited water intake and a poor diet lacking key antioxidants and vitamin C could also lead to further loss of our overall elasticity and flexibility.  Another factor outside of flexibility is that there can also be a natural decline in muscle mass and muscle strength making us feel less mobile.    Most of us remember that as kids we had the highest flexibility, but not all kids are flexible, it is really based on a combination of genetics and what we do on a daily basis that will allow us to be the best version of ourselves.  


Regardless, in order to recapture some of our flexibility we need to engage in daily stretching that could be simple yoga or any body opening exercises.  Flexibility can help to enhance your sports performance, improve your posture and also help enable you to get down on the ground to play with children and babies. Surprisingly It also makes you feel more confident and calm.  Stretching is something that can be done daily to help your overall mobility and flexibility and ultimately help combat how your muscles naturally tighten with age.  If you can’t get to a yoga or a stretch class, a good stretching routine will open up your chest, stretch your arms and legs, rotate or bend your neck, twist your trunk, elongate your body as well as focus on your breath.  Your chiropractor or health care practitioner can help you develop a simple daily stretching routine to target the most important muscles.  The Canadian Chiropractic Association has a campaign called Straighten UP Canada which is a three-minute stretching program and an app that can be downloaded from www.chiropractic.ca


Stretching is an easy thing to do on a daily basis to combat age-related stiffness in the comfort of your own home.  It can help you to feel more mobile and ready. So, don’t be left behind, put some stretch in your day!

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