HHS HealthBeat (June 28, 2012)

Flexibility

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Nicholas Garlow with HHS HealthBeat.

Flexibility is important for basic everyday movements, like getting in and out of your chair, and maintaining your balance. When we’re not active, our muscles lose their integrity. Without muscle integrity, it becomes harder to move and maintain health, especially as you get older.

Shellie Pfohl is executive director of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.

“More than one-third of adults age 65 or older fall each year. That’s huge.”

Taking steps to become more flexible will help you put one leg in front of the other.

 “Continuing to walk, to participate in classes like tai chi or yoga really helps us keep that flexibility, that mobility, that’s so important.”

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Nicholas Garlow.

Last revised: June 28, 2012