Mobility refers to our ability to move easily and freely from one place to another. It’s one of the most critical issues in the health and fitness of the elderly.
Everybody wants to live a long, healthy, and productive life surrounded by their loved ones. However, for you to enjoy such a beautiful wish, you need to be able to move freely, even in your old age.
Unfortunately for us, the older we get, the more our ability to move freely and easily declines. Things that might limit our ability to move independently in old age include hip fractures, diseases such as arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and osteoporosis.
How Is Mobility Assessed?
There are several ways of assessing your mobility. One of them is by checking whether you are experiencing difficulties while walking. A doctor can also use standardized walking tests to determine if your ability to move freely has declined.
What Are Some Of The Signs Of Declining Ability To Move Independently And Safely?
The two most visible signs of decline in mobility are your inability to run or even walk for long distances. The good thing about this issue of mobility limitation is that it can be prevented using exercises.
The reason why exercises are ideal is that they help you improve your postural balance and increase your lower extremity strength. These are the two things that are needed by the body for it to bring about movement and uphold a balanced vertical posture while moving.
Exercises That Help The Elderly Prevent Immobility
1. Chair Squats
Chair squats are simple exercises that you can do in the comfort of your home, as all you need is a chair. To perform this exercise correctly, you need to start by standing in front of a chair with your feet hip-width apart. Then, slowly lower your body to the chair bending your knees as if you will sit, then gently touch the seat of the chair and return to the original standing posture.
This exercise enables you to strengthen your knee muscles and to strengthen the joints.
2. Seated Abdominal Press
This is another essential exercise as it helps to strengthen your core, which enables you to maintain your stability. This exercise is easy to perform.
It would be best to start by being in a seated posture with your feet flat on the floor. Then place both your hands on your knees with your elbows locked and press your palms into your knees and hold for about 4-5 seconds.
Conclusion
There are a lot of benefits associated with mobility for the elderly. Mobility helps you to maintain your ability to live independently; it also helps to control the pain associated with arthritis and enables you to maintain healthy bones, joints, and muscles. This, in return, helps to lower the risk of bone fractures.
