Functional flexibility activities for older adults by Phil Page, P.T., M.S., .T.C., C.S.C.S.

For aging adults going from inactivity to activity, flexibility training may offer a good start towards a healthy lifestyle. This type of training may lack the high profile of cardiovascular exercise and strength training, but it can improve range of motion, decrease pain and soreness after exercise, improve posture, and decrease muscle tension. More importantly, stretching can make the difference in comfort when a client puts on a shirt in the morning or reaches for a cup of tea. s a result, flexibility can contribute significantly to overall functional fitness, helping older adults safely and effectively accomplish independent activities of daily living.