Seniors of today should be focused on caring for both their minds and bodies, especially as they start getting older. Getting enough exercise is essential for the elderly, but over and above cardiovascular exercise, seniors should also be stretching regularly.
Many seniors do not stretch regularly enough, and most of them don’t even consider adding this form of exercise to their daily routines. Fortunately, there are many mobility and stretching apps on the market, and most of them are free to download.
Best Mobility Stretching Apps For Seniors
Stretching apps are an important category of exercise apps for seniors because they promote gentle, low impact exercise that can help a senior’s overall health. Here are my favorites!
1. Mighty Health
Mighty Health is one of the top-rated wellness and fitness programs that focus on the older generation (people 50 and older). The app is designed to help seniors improve their balance and mobility or to lose weight.
With more of a focus on joint-friendly, low-impact workouts, this is one of the best apps for seniors looking for ways to incorporate stretching and mobility exercises into their daily routines.
2. Stretch Exercise – Flexibility
This app was designed by the Leap Fitness Group, which believes that stretching is important for all ages and should be included in a regular daily routine. This app is designed to help users to learn different types of stretching exercises.
They also recommend stretching exercises at least 3 times weekly. Stretching helps to prevent injuries and is highly recommended by most professional trainers before you start exercising.
Stretching can also be used to relieve pain and improve blood circulation. The stretching exercises in this app are also designed to improve muscle strength and mobility and offer 2 types of routines.
This includes evening or morning stretching. Users can choose a routine that works best for them or even both.
This stretching app has post-runner and pre-runner stretching exercises that help to prepare the muscles before training. It also includes stretching exercises that focus on different body parts. Suitable for all ages, the app allows users to choose the difficulty level in the setting of the app.
The app can be downloaded on Google Play or the App Store.
3. Stretching & Pilates Sworkit – Workouts For Anyone
When you download the Stretching & Pilates Sworkit, it’s like getting your own personal trainer that will teach you how to stretch. With 3 workout types to choose from, the app is designed to deliver effective and quick stretching exercises.
The 3 workouts include basic pilates, head-to-toe stretch, or entire body stretch. Seniors can also choose the workout duration between a minimum of 5 minutes up to a maximum of 60 minutes.
The videos include a trainer that gives exact instructions on how to stretch. With this app, the user is given precise instructions, and they won’t need any equipment or have to attend stretching classes at a local gym. In fact, all that is needed is a smartphone and a positive attitude.
The app can also be used for warm-ups before a workout or to relax and stretch the muscles after a workout. One of the best parts about this application is that it chooses new exercises for stretching for each new workout.
This popular app has already been downloaded more than 100 thousand times and is available on Google Play or the App Store.
4. Stretch HD
Stretch HD is an app focused on helping you to remain flexible, regardless of your age. Developed by health and fitness professionals, the app includes over 60 high-quality HD videos.
The effectiveness of every exercise on this app was tested at professional levels, and there are stretches for every part of the body.
Only the top stretching techniques are used, and if the user gets confused or they are not sure if they are doing the exercise correctly, they can either watch a video or read over the detailed instructions.
The app also includes a very modern design and an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
While following one of the stretching exercises, there is also the option to turn on music, and it will automatically play through the application. The user can also track their progress or take photos of their stretches so that they can compare them with other photos on the app.
This app is also available on Google Play or the App Store and has already been downloaded more than 90 thousand times.
5. Daily Yoga
Yoga is an excellent outlet for seniors to achieve their fitness goals and a fantastic way to stretch stiff joints and muscles.
Yoga is also one of the exercise routines that has been proven to reduce joint and back pain and significantly increase flexibility which is really important for older adults. But for many people, a yoga studio can be intimidating or even expensive.
Daily Yoga is not only a fantastic workout app, but it is also free. In the application, seniors can choose from over 100 meditation and yoga classes that are designed for every type of skill level.
For those that are just starting out, this is one of the best apps to ease the user in, and it also promises results and visible improvements within two weeks. The app is available for download on iOS or Android devices.
See more yoga apps for seniors here.
6. FitOn
FitOn is one of the best apps for older adults and contains 100s of workouts designed and created by a range of celebrity trainers. Some of the options to choose from for mobility exercises include yoga, pilates, barre, strength, dance, and HIIT classes.
The best part about this app is that it is possible to achieve effective and fast workouts with virtually no equipment in the privacy of your own home. Available for download for Android and iOS.
7. Freeletics
Freeletics is an at-home workout app designed for older adults. For those that are just getting into a fitness routine and are over the age of 60, Freeletics can help with targeting certain areas to improve mobility and strength.
This app provides short and easy workouts that can be tailored to various muscle groups. Also available for Android and iOS.
What Are The Benefits Of Stretching For Seniors?
Regular stretching can provide important benefits for people over the age of 60, including flexibility and increased range of motion. Many seniors are not aware that regular stretching can also promote better posture.
Why Is Stretching For Seniors So Important?
Unfortunately for the elderly, a decrease in overall joint mobility happens to be one of the common side effects linked to aging. Stretching is among the best methods to improve mobility in the joints without having to undergo invasive procedures or without any dangerous side effects.
When a senior starts to lose mobility in the joints, performing some of the most basic everyday tasks can become a real challenge.
From the ages of 70 to 92, seniors tend to experience major declines when it comes to a range of motion in the joints, and even though for some this may not sound so important, these are limitations that can result in significant impacts on a senior.
No longer being able to sweep floors, reach something in a cabinet, or even take out the trash might sound like a minor side-effect linked to a decline in joint movements.
Yet, for a senior, no longer being able to perform such tasks can end up meaning they are no longer able to live safely by themselves.
Fortunately, there are now many apps to choose from that promote stretching exercises. These simple stretches are designed to increase mobility and can make it much easier for seniors to live independently and safely while helping to improve their quality of life.
