Every Body Gets Stiff Sometimes
What Aging and Elite Athletes Have in Common
Current Conditions:
The weather is warming up, days are getting longer, and activity levels are rising. Longer adventures, multiple sport days, and road trips can leave your body feeling less like it did at 18. You might notice it when you stand up after a long drive, take your first steps in the morning, or head out for a hike after sitting at work all week. While it’s easy to think, “I’m just getting old,” that isn’t necessarily the case. Stiffness and achiness aren’t always signs that something is wrong. More often, they’re signs that your body is asking for something to change.
Stiffness often develops because we’ve spent hours in the same position. Muscles haven’t been asked to work, tendons haven’t been exposed to load, and joints haven’t moved through their full range of motion. This is especially common for people who sit for long periods. The glutes become less active, the hip flexors stiffen, and the shoulder blades provide less support for the neck and shoulders. If you repeatedly go from sitting all day to performing at a high level, wear and tear can accumulate. Tendons need both bouncing and sustained loads to stay healthy, and while daily life keeps us moving mostly in straight lines, sports demand rotation. A simple 10-minute routine that activates muscles, loads tendons, and incorporates rotation can help prepare your body for the activities you enjoy.
Taking Notes:
While tendons and ligaments become less adaptable with age, that doesn’t mean you have to accept that fate. Professional athletes use travel routines to recover from long periods of sitting because even elite bodies respond to inactivity. Tendons are a little like rubber bands. They work best when they can shorten, lengthen, and spring back efficiently. Long periods of sitting can temporarily reduce that responsiveness. The good news is that tendons adapt remarkably well to training. With the right amount of movement and loading, they become stronger, more resilient, and better able to store and release force. However, just like professional athletes, you’ll still benefit from warming up before activity.
If you’d like to learn more about tendon health and athletic performance, check out the linked podcast. It explains much of the science that guides modern tendon rehabilitation and performance programs.
Outlook:
Finding a series of movements that addresses your deficits and makes you feel good can help build longevity. It also provides an opportunity to check in with your body and recognize when you’re having an off day. The goal isn’t to move like you’re 18 forever. The goal is to stay adaptable, resilient, and ready for the activities you enjoy. A few minutes of intentional movement each day can go a long way toward making that happen.
Stiffness isn’t always a sign that you’re getting old. More often, it’s feedback. Listen to it, respond to it, and your body will continue to reward you for years to come.