Is stiffness just part of getting older?
Partly. Far less than most people assume, and the part that is not is the part you can act on.
Tissues do change with age. But much of what gets blamed on age is the result of moving less, and that part responds to moving more at any age.
Walk most days
Twenty minutes is enough to matter. Consistency does more than intensity.
Move joints through range
Gentle circles at the neck, shoulders, and hips, daily rather than occasionally.
Get up from low chairs
Practising standing up without pushing off keeps strength that stiffness hides.
How long does it usually last?
Stiffness that is mostly disuse tends to ease noticeably within three to four weeks of regular movement. Stiffness that does not change at all in that time is worth having looked at.
When should you see someone?
- Stiffness unchanged after a month of regular movement
- A joint that is hot, red, or swollen
- Morning stiffness lasting more than an hour
- Stiffness with unexplained weight loss or fever
- Sudden loss of range in one joint
Any of these are worth an in-person evaluation rather than waiting it out.
How do you keep it from coming back?
- Move every day rather than intensely twice a week
- Take the stairs when they are there
- Keep hips and shoulders through full range
- Do not wait for stiffness to pass on its own
A regular walk does more than an occasional one
A short daily loop on the hills on the east side of the river does more for stiffness than a single long effort at the weekend. Frequency is what tissue responds to.
Is stiffness a normal part of ageing?
Some tissue change is normal with age. Much of the stiffness people notice comes from moving less, and that part responds to moving more.
Can you improve flexibility after 60?
Yes. Range of motion improves with regular movement at every age studied.
Why am I stiffer in the morning?
Tissue is less mobile after hours of stillness. It typically eases within twenty to thirty minutes of moving.
When is stiffness worth checking?
If it has not changed after a month of regular movement, lasts more than an hour each morning, or comes with heat, swelling, fever, or weight loss.
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