8 MICRO MOVES TO BEAT PAIN

Don't settle for sore knees and stiff shoulders -keep your body in motion with these small at-home tricks

- JENNY ROWE

DOES your back twinge when you stack the dishwasher? Is there a niggle in your neck when you drive?

It’s true that as we age we have creakier joints, more stubborn injuries and potentially damaging falls – but it doesn’t have to be all downhill from here.

Nor does keeping your body on track require lots of effort. There are easy exercises you can do at home daily that can make the world of difference.

If you make these simple micro-movements part of your routine every day, chances are it can save you plenty on expensive physiotherapy in the years to come.

The best part? You won’t even break a sweat and they don’t cost a cent!

YOUR HOME WORKOUT

In an ideal world, micro-movements should be introduced before you experience pain in a specific area. They’ll activate and condition underused muscles (or relieve tight ones), as well as help keep your joints fluid and your fascia healthy.

These exercises can be done every day as they don’t put you at risk of injury. Struggling to get it right? YouTube videos can help ensure good technique.

USE IT OR LOSE IT

“From our mid-30s we lose muscle mass – which supports the bones and good posture – and bone density,” says health and fitness trainer Vicki Hill. And it happens much faster once you hit menopause. “At this time, we lose collagen, oestrogen and testosterone, so if we don’t keep our joints moving, they will ache more,” Hill adds. “The body is also made up of connective tissue called fascia, which needs to move to stay hydrated. When it doesn’t, we become less mobile.”