Those over 40 - stiffness / less flexible

[flumpybear]

Hi - does anyone else have experience of becoming stiffer and less flexible since they reached their mid 40’s?
I’ve been pretty flexible most of my life and pretty healthy with pretty good on and off exercise regimes - I’ve been a bit less active over the last few years since having kids as it’s been so hard fitting so much in but still doing swimming and bits of exercise
I am a bit over weight - but goodness I’ve become really stiff and where I used to say bounce in and out of the pool edge, never using the steps, I now need to use the steps so I’m not creaking and stiff getting in the pool!! I do loosen up when exercising eg with personal trainer sessions but I’ve noticed a big difference over the last few years

Anyone else of a similar age or experience?!

There's lots of Yoga videos on YouTube, sorry I can't recommend a specific one though.

I'm 50 & none of this stiffness is happening to me.
I can't touch my nose to my toes any more, that's true. Got out of the habit.
And reaching toes with fingertips not easy. I have naturally low muscle tone, probably a factor.

I was dragged to yoga for a while in my teens :). Skived off of swimming this morning

Increased stiffness can be associate degree with age, simply because it can be a progressive condition, and the longer you have lived the greater the opportunity for it to have advanced.

But 40 is extremely young, and I would want to see doctor to see if there is any underlying condition.

There isn't much else you can go, other than have a good diet and keep moving. Yoga and Pilates are both good as they work on your bendiness, but if you have particular problem areas, then it's probably worth having a session with a physio to see if there are targeted exercises that would help you.

I've been to my GP this morning.

She waggled by leg back and forth and declared an issue with my hip.

I'm getting a referral to the MSK services.

Yoga for beginners - good.

Anything more advanced/strenuous - lay off until I see the Physiotherapist.

She waggled my leg back and forth.... obviously

My yoga dvds are :

1. Yoga Stretch for Beginners + Beyond with Jessica Smith
2. Barbara Currie's 7 Secrets of Yoga

both on Amazon.
I tend to do the 1st one more as feels slightly easier - 2 sections, 30 min morning wake up and a 30 min section for the evening relaxing stretches.

I’m nearly 46 actually - at 40 I was having a baby lol so quite fit then ...... not so much now my fitness is dreadful .... horrendous actually to what it was - I do loosen up with stretching - I think I need to loose weight first before I worry too much - I can live a normal life I’m just a bit stiffer than I was

Started cod liver oil today

I'm 48 and wouldn't say I'm getting very stiff yet ... I do find that if I sit with my legs up for a long while (reclining chair) then my legs are a little stiff but ease within a couple of steps. So I've stopped sitting like that! Mind you, I don't think I ever bounced out of a pool ....

I’m reeeeally inflexible. Reading this thread to pick up tips.

Mine is chiropractic. It really helps to relieve stiffness.

Lol egg I used to be a bit like tigger but I’ve slowed down a lot over the last 20 years

I do Yoga with Adriene (Youtube). Also HRT helped with my unexplained stiffness at 48.