The elasticity of the spinal column decreases from the age of 20 for men and from the age of 25 for women, and the movement performance of major joints is affected with increasing age.
Stretching exercises to improve mobility should be carried out only after sufficient warming up (at least 10 minutes), as the elasticity of tendons, ligaments and muscles is reduced in older people.
Besides this, mainly dynamic stretching should be practiced, in the form of swinging, turning and hanging movements. (c.f. Weineck 2000).
