I asked a physical therapist which movements disappear first as we age-and this is the simple five-move routine she recommends to help you keep them
Fit&Well • • health
Key Points:
- Mobility tends to decline with age, especially movements requiring balance, strength, coordination, and quick reactions, such as floor transfers, squatting, and turning the head.
- Physical therapist Courtney Fitzpatrick highlights key movements that often deteriorate first, including leg strength, eccentric muscle control, thoracic and cervical rotation, hip mobility, and balance.
- A recommended strength routine to maintain mobility includes exercises like seated thoracic twists, sit-to-stand movements, standing hip flexor stretches, supported standing child’s pose, and shoulder squeezes.
- These exercises aim to improve upper-back rotation, leg and hip strength, hip flexibility, back and shoulder stretch, and posture, helping older adults stay mobile and reduce movement loss.
- Performing this routine a couple of times a week can slow down age-related mobility decline and support healthier, more comfortable movement.
