Have a stiff neck? Sore wrists? Struggle to pick things off the ground?
You might be losing some of your mobility, which is your ability to move your joints through their full range of motion without restriction. Think of it as flexibility plus strength. And it’s particularly important to maintain as you age.
Physical therapists have long helped patients with mobility, often offering specific exercises to target a particular joint. But gyms and specialists are increasingly offering workouts aimed at increasing overall mobility. In the best case, they can prevent stiffness before it happens.
The approach can be transformative. When Stephen Rawson, a software engineer in Maui, was in his late 30s, he started experiencing debilitating neck and back pain. Daily tasks like taking out the trash, walking his dog and washing dishes became almost unbearable.
Mr. Rawson turned to a personal trainer who specializes in mobility and gave him a series of tests. He now does around 30 minutes of mobility work a day, in addition to a weekly specialized gym class. Daily activities no longer cause him pain and he’s returned to surfing.
Whether you’re a professional athlete or an office worker, you need to think about maintaining mobility, said Melissa Plemmons, who developed Mr. Rawson’s workout.