Exercises to help dh balance and bending

[balzamico]

Dh bent down to pick something off the floor yesterday and looked like someone 30 years older (he's 53). He really struggled to reach it.
He's never been bendy or very fit but walks a reasonable amount (hates hills) .
He has no bottom and I have a theory that his lack of muscle in this area will not be helping him.
Is it glutes exercises he needs? Squats?
In all truth he probably won't do them (another issue) but I'd like to know what might help.

I've told him he's taking up Pilates when he retires but that's a few years away yet

Beginners yoga - a class not YouTube - would be the best. Likely to be lack of muscle activation as you suggest along with tightness through back of legs / back of body. Unless you move the body through it’s full range of comfortable motion regularly that range of motion will decrease over time.

That's called Glute amnesia.

Walking is in one plane only, so people can get very stiff, even if fit.

Best thing would be a proper assessment by a physio, who also runs stretch or Pilates classes. Or a really, really good PT but physio is better if he's got restricted movement somewhere.

Why wait till he's retired to do the Pilates?
If he's shy, some instructors who started doing zoom classes are continuing to do so. Zero travel time so it doesn't take a chunk out of the day.

Maybe also you should find some nice walks with increasing amounts of hills - I'd guess he 'hates hills' because he's not got the muscles.

Having said that, DH likes hill walking but had trouble bending down until he started to do some mobility exercises recommended by a physio after back peoples

..sorry, not sure what happened there... after back problems. I think men tend to be less flexible in general and particularly in the hips.