AI Generated Image
Over 60? A physical therapist says this is the one mobility habit to add if your knees feel stiff
Tom's Guide • • health
Key Points:
- Knee stiffness and reduced mobility are common with aging, but simple daily exercises can help maintain comfortable movement in the knees well into later years.
- Physical therapist Leah Upton recommends heel slides, a low-impact exercise that gently moves the knee through its range of motion to reduce stiffness and improve joint lubrication.
- Heel slides involve sliding the heel towards the glutes while lying down or sitting, with 10–15 repetitions per leg daily, and can be modified to be easier or harder depending on individual needs.
- Benefits of heel slides include improved knee mobility, enhanced joint lubrication through synovial fluid movement, support for everyday activities, and maintenance of lower-limb flexibility.
- This exercise requires no equipment, takes only a few minutes, and can be a simple, effective way to keep knees moving comfortably as one ages, provided it is done within a pain-free range.
