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Retirees On The Go: 5 Tips & Tricks For Improving Senior Mobility

Do you find yourself paddling upstream through a current of ageist misconceptions? Dodging snide comments that Alzheimer’s is a senior citizen’s inevitable doom or battling against depictions of the elderly body as fragile and weak? If so, it’s time to set the story straight and take your mobility into your own hands, the hands decorated by age spots, wrinkles, and other markers of wisdom.

While experts report that aging directly affects muscle mass, bone density, and cartilage thickness, there are senior-friendly strategies you can employ for optimal mobility. Be warned that without the necessary lifestyle changes, deteriorating muscle mass can result in decreased muscle strength. Similarly, joint wear-and-tear can lead to a day-to-day routine defined by a restricted range of motion, chronic pain, and even declining mental health—induced by a sedentary lifestyle.

Despite the signs of declining mobility (i.e., slow-paced movements, balance/coordination difficulties, and feeble limbs) that can gradually surface, senior citizens everywhere secure a tight grasp on their zeal for life, much like they clench onto the handgrips of their walkers. In fact, for many sunset-year movers and shakers, the age-old adage “age is but a number” rings true. Today, retirees in hoards have embarked on exotic adventures abroad, enrolled in volunteer programs, tried their hand at golden-age-friendly hobbies, and charged through their ever-growing bucket lists.

Remember, no longer are the days of twice-daily naps and fruitless channel surfing. That said, if you’re ready to redefine retirement living and fear days spent idling in front of the television, consider the tips and tricks below for improving senior mobility. In no time, you’ll be running circles around your stagnant senior counterparts and springing up from your seat with ease.

Invest in a high-quality mobility aid

If you’re a first-time walking aid user, you’ll need to examine the mobility aid market with a critical eye. After all, your mobility and sense of independence are at stake. With your quality of life on the line, investing in a stand-up walker, like The Perfect Walker, could help you regain a sense of self-sufficiency. For those traditional walker users unfamiliar with a stand-up walker’s benefits, an upright walker enables you to distribute your weight evenly, prevent wrist strain, and maintain optimum stability on the go.

When assuming an upright position, users can go the distance and trim down their rest breaks. Similarly, with ache-and-pain-reducing technology, stand-up walkers can empower mobility-restricted seniors to tackle daily tasks without fears of chronic pain flare-ups distracting them. Additionally, these non-traditional walkers allow the user to maneuver around obstructions and tread into any unleveled territory. With balance-enhancing components, seniors don’t have to sacrifice morning walks, outdoor gatherings, or nightly strolls.

Prioritize exercise

While retirement can conjure up images of leather recliners, furry slippers, and the nightly news, old age isn’t an excuse to opt-out of physical activity. Capitalize on the wisdom of your high school physics class, and remember that an object in motion stays in motion, while an object at rest stays at rest. That said, carving out time daily for routine exercises could be your one-way ticket to unrestricted mobility.

Not sure where to start? Wall push-ups, marching in place, toe lifts, chair squats, or even an evening walk around the block can make all the difference for elderly exercisers. Not only do these exercises strengthen your muscles, but they also help improve balance and boost confidence.

Stretch regularly

To achieve increased blood flow, soothe chronic pain, and enhance your mobility, make stretching a morning routine staple. With the help of a quick overhead side stretch or a 30-second hamstring stretch, you can wave goodbye to slips, falls, and other household spills. Unlike high-intensity jogs and weightlifting, stretching won’t tire the average retiree. Not to mention, these equipment-free stretches can release stiffness and relax stiff joints, both well-known causes of reduced mobility.

Maintain a healthy weight

While healthy weight standards are contingent on factors like your height and gender, morbid obesity is universally destructive to elderly bodies of all varieties. Not only will extra lbs (and one too many sweets) inflict damage to weight-bearing joints, but this weight gain can weaken your seniors’ legs, negatively impacting their mobility.

If you value your independence and on-the-go lifestyle, cut out processed foods when possible, vow to incorporate nutrient-dense foods into your diet, and exercise regularly. With these few simple steps, you can pack years onto your lifespan while improving your mobility.

Act with caution

When approaching your peak golden years, it’s vital to note that one slip, fall, or stumble could spell disaster for your mobility. With hazards lurking around every corner, moving through your daily routine with caution should be priority #1.

How can seniors such as yourself avert crises? First, start by decluttering your sanctuary. With your family home acting as the backdrop of your retirement, you’ll need to ensure a loose tennis shoe or neglected dog toy doesn’t have the power to put you in harm’s way. Whether you decide to chip away at your spring cleaning checklist or gradually or devote a weekend to deep cleaning, the choice is up to you. Just be sure to keep a watchful eye out for potential obstacles.

However, these preventative measures don’t stop at your front door. When venturing out into the public eye, you’ll need to stay on the lookout for black ice, fallen branches, sidewalk cracks, and other common culprits of catastrophes. Despite your commitment to routine exercise, a wobbly gait could render an outdoor dining experience a disaster.

Wrap up

Don’t surrender to stationary living—instead, swan dive into your golden years with a passion for adrenaline-pumping adventures. With these senior mobility tips and tricks committed to memory, passing up opportunities that require balance and physical strength will be a thing of the past.


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Retirees On The Go: 5 Tips & Tricks For Improving Senior Mobility

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