Ease Back into Exercise After the Winter Break

Winter has a way of slowing everything down – including how often we move our joints. Colder temperatures, shorter days and prolonged inactivity can leave us feeling less mobile by the time that Spring arrives. If your joints feel inactive after months of reduced movement, you’re not alone. The good news is that warmer weather and longer days provide the perfect opportunity to put a spring back in your step.

After a quieter winter period, it’s helpful to gently reintroduce movement with some mobility and flexibility exercises. Stretching can help reduce stiffness, improve range of motion and prepare your body for daily activities. While stretching alone isn’t proven to prevent falls, maintaining good joint mobility alongside strength and balance training plays an important role in staying active and confident.

To help you get started, we’ve created a gentle full-body routine designed specifically for older adults:

You can follow along at your own pace and repeat it a couple of times each week as part of a well-rounded exercise programme.

When it comes to getting back into exercise after the winter break, the goal is to move gently but regularly, and low-impact activities are a good place to start. One of the best low-impact exercises is to simply go for a walk which is a perfect way to ease yourself back in – especially in the Spring. No matter your ability, there are plenty of local walking trails where you can get your steps in and enjoy the season. Make sure you choose suitable footwear for your route to help protect your joints by reducing the impact, alleviating pressure and improving stability.

When you start to feel more comfortable and want a bit more of a challenge, we’d love to welcome you at one of our local Move it or Lose it exercise classes. Our exercise classes focus on enhancing flexibility, boosting aerobic health, improving balance and increasing strength. Designed by experts in ageing, each class helps people to support and maintain their overall health and well-being. In addition to the physical benefits, our classes also provide an opportunity to meet and connect with people in your community which can greatly enhance your motivation and enjoyment. Find your local class here.

While regular movement and low-impact exercises can help prepare your joints for an active Spring, a supplement may help to support joint health from the inside out.* GOPO® Joint Health contains specially cultivated naturally sourced rose-hip with a uniquely high level of GOPO®. Long-standing research projects have focused on rose-hip with a high level of GOPO®. Rose-hip may play a valuable role in the maintenance of joints and joint tissues.

GOPO® Joint Health is available from Boots, Amazon, Holland and Barrett and independent chemists and retailers nationwide. Visit www.gopo.co.uk for further information. 

*Alongside a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Rose-hips help maintain healthy and flexible joints. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones and cartilage. Vitamin C contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and the normal function of the immune system. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet and healthy lifestyle.