Mobility: Not Just For “Old People”
As a 31 year old woman I have spent many hours of my time training or moving in ways that weren’t sustainable, many hours hunched over a desk that wasn’t set up right, countless nights on a less than suitable mattress, and have had my fair share of injury or imbalance. Most of these things occurred when I was young enough not to worry about it. Although, last year I had a baby and I did definitely notice a change in my body (many changes, actually) before, during and after.
However, I have noticed a mentality among my peers that I don’t think is unique for us millennials, although potentially increasingly relevant for us. That is, that mobility work isn’t for us. It’s for “old people”. You know, people who have Mobility Park signs in their cars and have to walk with a walker. (FYI: not all Mobility Parks are for retired people. These parks are for those with disabilities, visible or not). Mobility work isn’t for us young bucks who are agile and youthful! Well, fellow 90s babes, fellow “dial-up internet kids” and 80s latch key kids, I have news for you. If you are old enough to take 2 Panadol before your Thursday night game of social netball, or stiff enough to hobble outside with your dog in the morning until your back loosens up a bit. If you are old enough to have that “weird clicky thing in my wrist at the end of a long day at the office” or have weekly tension headaches, even migraines, from squinting at a screen, then mobility work is indeed for you.
So why the bad wrap? Since when did mobility work become associated with gray hair and retirement villages? Generally speaking, a lot more is known about soft tissue and injury recovery than there was when we were born. There is a lot more research supporting preventative care. In the last 5 years, more funding has become available for “falls prevention programmes” in primary care health centers. Meaning PHOs like Tu Ora Compass Health facilitate supplementary funding for their general practices to encourage doctors to see people over the age of 65 years before, during, and after they have had an injury from a fall. This way, their health, their house and even their medication can best support that person’s mobility and balance, ultimately preventing them from falling in the first place and/or needing severe hospital treatment/surgery to recover.
But even outside general practice, and outside the retired demographic, more and more we are adapting out workplace (eg standing desks and voice command software), we are adapting our gear (eg better technology in footwear and orthotics) and taking an increased responsibility to keep well (eg Pilates classes, yoga classes, gym memberships often offering online “do it from home” options). All of these things improve mobility.
So why don’t we just say it? “I don’t do yoga to look cool on Instagram, I do it so that my back doesn’t lock up every time I bend over,” or “I am part of the VIP Pilates group here not just for the discount but because otherwise I get Plantar Fascialitis when I wear my going out shoes.” Maybe millenials are struggling to grapple with our age. Or maybe we can justify the money of paying for the foam roller if we associate it with our “I am going to finally lose that weight” regime. Maybe we feel better about doing our physio exercises before bed because that cool girl on TikTok does it so really we are young too. Either way, if you develop a regular practice that helps you to live better in your body, good for you. But just remember, prioriting mobility from now on, all the way until you retire, will likely mean that you have more energy and less pain when you roll on the floor with your (grand)kids. Mobility will help you keep up with those social sports you love. It will reduce your medical bills even if they are covered by ACC. Mobility is great! And like a lot of things in life, please don’t wait until you don’t have it to appreciate it.
