Exercises For Combating Age-Related Shoulder Mobility Loss

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A common misconception is that age-related mobility loss is inevitable and that high levels of physical activity increase this loss.

A scientific study published in The Official Journal Of The American Aging Association

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3824991/#!po=0.657895

concluded that age-related mobility loss occurred faster in the shoulder and trunk than all other joints. This decline begins at age 30 for males and age 40 for females. Given that shoulder, mobility is vital for daily activities such as dressing or retrieving objects from a shelf, we should be arming ourselves with knowledge on how to restore shoulder mobility.

So, where do we stand with the effect of high levels of physical activity on mobility loss? A scientific study in The Journal Of Aging Research

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3703899/#!po=0.666667

assessed this in 436 individuals ranging in age from 55-86 and found no significant influence from high levels of physical activity. They did find that shoulder abduction mobility declined by 5 degrees per decade of age in men and 6 degrees in women. This decline in shoulder mobility accelerated at age 63 for women and age 71 for men. This general trend of faster loss of shoulder mobility in women was found in a prior study

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2920713/

the authors concluded that the effects of age were countered in some parts by health, strength, and customary use. The effect of use was most marked in individuals with some degree of disability suggesting that maintained or increased use of the shoulder could offset some of the age-related mobility loss.

Convinced to take action? Head on over to my social media for a video series of shoulder mobility exercises you can do at home.

Stay informed and enjoy your fitness training :-)