Tips to Help Senior Citizens Prevent Back Tightness

As seniors age and staying active becomes more difficult, so too comes reduced muscle mass and flexibility. Spending long periods of time sitting has been shown to be as bad as smoking for one’s health. Seniors commonly find themselves sitting a lot, which can also increase back pain. Fortunately, there are some tips to help senior citizens prevent back tightness, reduce pain, and start feeling more active.

Having a Strong Core

One of the best tips for preventing and reducing back tightness is having a strong core. Did you know the muscles around the body’s trunk help stabilize a person’s spine? So, if your elderly loved one doesn’t have a strong core, they are much more likely to have back issues such as tightness, spasms, and pain. In addition, a strong core improves posture which also takes the pressure off the spine. One of the best ways for your elderly loved one to have a stronger core is to take a 30-minute walk every day. If you don’t think they will do this on their own, you or an in-home care provider can go on the walks with them.

Increasing Their Exercise

Just as with the walks noted above, having your elderly loved one increase their exercise is a great way to reduce and prevent back tightness. One of the reasons for this is because when your elderly loved one doesn’t move around a lot, their back tightens up. However, physical activity through exercise or just moving around can lead to much less tightness and discomfort in the back and the entire body. Even moving around for 10 minutes a day can make all the difference in how your elderly loved one’s back feels.

Stretching

Whether your elderly loved one is exercising regularly or not, stretching should be done daily. This is one of the best ways to overcome tightness and pain in the back. There are many gentle, but specific lower back stretches that can truly help to improve posture and reduce these issues noted above.

Improve Posture

How is your elderly loved one’s posture? If they are like many senior citizens and other adults, they slouch over and it isn’t very good. This could be the cause of their back tightness, muscle spasms, and back pain. If this is the case, there are numerous stretches and activities that can help to improve posture. There are even posture correcting devices that you or an in-home care provider can have your elderly loved one wear.

Conclusion

Is your elderly loved one experiencing back tightness? If so, there are numerous ways that they can relieve tightness, spasms, pain, and discomfort. The tips noted above would be a great start for achieving this goal. If you don’t feel your elderly loved one will achieve these goals on their own, an in-home care provider could help them each day to work on these tips.

Sources
https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/topics/everyday-healthy-living/safety/prevent-back-pain