“The older I get, the less flexible I’ll become, right?

 WRONG!

As you grow older, there is no need to grunt and groan when you get out of a chair, or shuffle when you walk or turn your whole body to look at what’s beside you. Experts acknowledge a biological decrease in natural flexibility as a person ages, but there is growing evidence that the decreases in physical function we commonly associate with aging are not entirely related to advancing years, but are attributable, in large part, to a sedentary lifestyle. 

When aging is accompanied by an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, muscle atrophy is almost always the result. And once that happens, it is difficult to regain the earlier muscle mass with strength training and to regain the former flexibility with stretching, although it can be done.

 There are compelling reasons to avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Improved nutrition and medical discoveries have made it possible for us to live longer, so taking care of these bodies in which we are going to live for a long time is increasingly important. 

Apparently, it is never too late to start with aerobic, strength, and flexibility training. Researchers have found that programmed, regular exercise (three days a week, twenty to thirty minutes per session) significantly improves all three in both men and women. To prolong life and preserve a good quality of life, working out is important.