Exercises for Mobility and Functional Strength

To build upon the ankle plantar flexion stretch that I shared earlier, here is a short routine of 3 mobility exericses that I enjoy doing to improve ankle mobility:

Ankle Raises While on Balls of Feet:

Ankle raises are excellent for strengthening your calf muscles and Achilles tendon, and for warming up all of the soft tissues that surround your ankle joints. Ankle raises are also helpful for developing balance and proprioception. Read more

To improve shoulder and upper back mobility, lie face-up with your head slightly off the end of a bed and let your arms hang freely above your head.

Once you’re comfortable in this position, slowly take your arms through a small arc as though you are making a snow angel - you can do this several times to warm up your shoulder joints. Read more

In sharing a recent post on what to do for stiff hands, several readers asked for suggestions for foot pain and stiffness. I shared a short video on foot and toe exercises last week, which is re-posted below. Also embedded below is a video that demonstrates how another person can mobilize your feet. I hope these resources are helpful. Read more

Over the past year, I've noticed an increasing stream of studies that point to hand grip strength as a strong indicator of health-related quality of life in old age. This aligns with mounting evidence that one of the best things we can do to preserve our health as we age is to develop and maintain muscle tissue and the physical strength that it affords. Read more