Is Getting Stiffer Really Just Part of Getting Older?

“Well… I suppose I’m just getting old.”

How many times have you said that after getting up from the sofa and taking those first few slightly creaky steps? 😂

Or perhaps you’ve noticed it’s a bit harder to turn and look behind you, getting down to the floor isn’t quite as appealing as it once was, or putting your socks on suddenly seems to require considerably more effort than it should.

It’s very easy to put all of this down to one thing:

AGE.

There’s a common belief that becoming stiffer and less mobile is simply an inevitable part of getting older.

But is it?

Yes, our bodies change as we age

I’m not going to pretend that our bodies at 50, 60 or 70 are exactly the same as they were at 25.

Muscles, joints and connective tissues change. We naturally lose some muscle if we don’t actively work to maintain it, and recovery can take a little longer.

But there’s another part of the story that I think gets overlooked.

We often stop moving in the ways we used to.

Think about it.

We squat less.

We sit on the floor less.

We reach, twist and stretch less.

We might choose the lift or escalator rather than the stairs, avoid the steep hill or use our hands to push ourselves out of a chair without even thinking about it.

None of these things seems particularly important on its own.

But gradually, our world of movement can start getting smaller.

Our bodies adapt to what we DON'T ask of them

Our bodies are incredibly good at adapting to what we repeatedly ask them to do.

Unfortunately, they’re also good at adapting to what we don’t ask them to do. 😬

If we rarely squat deeply, our body gets less accustomed to squatting.

If we never get down onto the floor, getting back up can start to feel harder.

If we always hold onto something when standing on one leg, our balance doesn’t get much opportunity to practise.

If we stop reaching, rotating and moving our joints through different ranges, those movements can begin to feel less comfortable.

Which brings me to something I think is really important:

We don’t always stop moving because we’ve become stiff.Sometimes we become stiffer because we’ve stopped moving.

And that’s a rather different way of looking at ageing.

You don’t need to start doing anything heroic

This doesn’t mean you suddenly need to spend hours stretching every day or launch yourself into some gruelling exercise regime.

Quite the opposite.

It’s the small things, done regularly, that matter.

Strengthening.

Balancing.

Reaching.

Rotating.

Squatting.

Walking.

Getting outside.

Getting down on the floor occasionally, and, more importantly, getting yourself back up again! 😂

Those little bits of movement might not feel particularly dramatic at the time, but we’re playing the long game.

We’re effectively telling our bodies:

“I’d quite like to still be able to get down on the floor, reach into the back of a cupboard, climb a hill and put my socks on standing up in another 10, 20 or 30 years, thank you very much.”

Try this little experiment

Over the next few days, notice whether there are any movements you’ve quietly stopped doing.

Do you always use your hands to get out of a chair?

Do you avoid sitting on the floor because getting back up feels difficult?

Do you sit down or hold onto something to put your trousers and socks on?

Do you turn your whole body rather than comfortably rotating to look behind you?

Do you automatically choose an easiest route rather than walking up the hill?

There’s no judgement here, and you don’t need to suddenly force yourself to do something that feels painful or unsafe.

Just notice.

Because sometimes we don’t realise how many little movements have disappeared from our lives until somebody points them out.

Keep showing your body what you expect it to do

This is exactly why I’m such a fan of short, regular bouts of movement.

A little strength, mobility and balance work throughout the week helps remind our bodies that we still expect them to be capable.

And what we do between workouts matters too.

Walk. Get outside. Take the stairs when you can. Potter in the garden. Get up from your chair regularly. Reach, bend, twist and generally keep giving your body reasons to move.

You don’t have to turn every bit of movement into a workout.

It all counts.

Because getting older is inevitable.

Getting smaller and smaller in the way we move doesn’t have to be.

So keep moving, keep practising and keep showing your body what you still expect it to be able to do. 💜

Alison xx

P.S. Try my 'FREE Midlife Body MOT'. It will help you discover what movements in your daily life that may have become smaller. Click here👇🏼https://alison.onyxhealthandfitness.co.uk/midlife-body-mot