Balance exercises, such as balancing on one foot, can help prevent and cut the risk of injury from falls too. Before stretching, warm up with 5 to 10 minutes of light activity. It's usually best to stretch after a workout.

Understanding the Context

Keep stretches gentle and slow. Don't bounce. Breathe through your stretches. If you feel pain, you've stretched too far.

Key Insights

Shoulder rolls, hamstring stretches and calf exercises can all improve flexibility and endurance. Stretching is a simple way to prepare your muscles and joints for any workout. But it’s not just for warming up. Stretching is great between exercises and as part of your cool-down routine, too. Research shows a link between flexibility and longevity.

Final Thoughts

Try these 8 simple stretching exercises to improve your mobility and daily health as you age.