DO THE LEGWORK

As we start to spend more time indoors, get set to limber up in the lounge and put some strength back in your stride

- KIM JONES

You’ll need to put in the legwork if you want to live a long and healthy life. Health research points to the fact that people with strong legs tend to live longer. That’s most likely because, if your legs are fit, you’re better equipped to keep mobile and active as you age.

Remarkably, researchers at King’s College London also found leg strength is linked with healthy brain ageing. In a 10-year study of 324 female twins, the twin with more leg strength maintained her mental abilities better and had fewer brain changes associated with ageing. So, if you did a lot of sitting during the first lockdown earlier this year, and your pins aren’t as powerful as they should be, it’s time to shake a leg this time around and get them moving!

Follow our eight stages to get your legs lithe and your muscles mighty again.

1 GET FLEXIBLE

Stiff legs limit your range of movement, so first up do some stretching to elongate muscles and tendons and get yourself ready for exercise, says Tim Allardyce, sports physiotherapist and osteopath at surreyphysio.co.uk.

“The hamstrings – at the back of the thigh – are particularly prone to shortening in sedentary people,” he says.

Perform this stretch twice a day: place one heel on a chair, lean forward and push your knee downwards, feeling a stretch at the back of the thigh. Hold for 30 seconds then repeat each side.