Floor freedom: How to get up from the floor by Cathy Moxley, MA

•The ability to get down and back up off the floor to do things like play with a child, clean out a kitchen cabinet or participate in a floor exercise class is something that younger adults may take for granted. Unfortunately, for many older adults, such daily activities and motions may gradually become more difficult until they eventually fall off the daily repertoire of possible movements.

An action that often enters into the category of “not any more” is getting down on the floor for any reason—on purpose, that is. Physical decline in the form of decreased upper-body and lower-body strength, a history of injuries or surgeries, decreased range of motion in many joints and balance issues can make the prospect of getting down—and back up—off the floor nothing short of daunting.