Stretching (Flexibility)

Stretching exercises help maintain or improve your flexibility, make movement easier, and lower the risk of muscle strain or injury. It's a good idea to stretch for 5 to 15 minutes before beginning your aerobic exercise to warm-up your muscles and after completing your workout to cool-down to prevent stiffness. Stretching can be very relaxing. It should be done slowly to cause little discomfort and without bouncing.

Baby boomers as they age face the increasing probabilty of difficulty with balance leading to falls. Falls cost an estimated $12 billion each year and can lead to numerous other problems. In a study of affluent older adults in Marin County in California, almost one half of those ages 85 and older reported that problems with balance limited their daily activities; objective tests of balance confirmed this finding. Boomers can maintain good balance through several approaches including Tai Chi, yoga, judo, and karate as well as balance exercises.

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