Stretching your cramped muscles on a regular basis can help your flexibility. As you age, your muscles lose the moisture they had when you were young, and if you don't take time to stretch, they'll dry up. Taking short breaks during the day to stretch will activate the lubricants your muscles need to stay limber. Five-minute stretching exercises can be done at your desk or in front of the TV.
Side Stretch
Stand with your feet together and the large quadriceps muscles on the front of your thighs pulled up and away from your knees. Draw your tailbone down and lengthen up through your waist. Lift your shoulders slightly and then with an exaggerated movement, pull them back and down. Your shoulder blades tend to creep up around your ears during the day and even the act of forcing your shoulder blades back where they belong relieves tension. Sweep your arms over your head and place your palms together. Exhale and bend your torso to the right. Hold the stretch for up to two minutes and repeat on your left side.
Reclining Leg Lift
Lie on the floor on your left side. Rise up onto your left elbow and support your head with your left hand. Lift your right leg into the air and grab your right foot with your right hand. If you're too stiff, use a yoga strap, necktie or belt to loop over your right foot. Gently pull the foot toward your head and then ease it back. Alternate pulling and easing for two minutes and then lie on your right side to stretch your left leg.
Standing Thigh Stretch
Take five minutes to stretch out the quad muscles, which can become shortened due to sitting all day long. Come to a standing position. Bend your left knee. Keep your upper thigh perpendicular to the floor. Reach behind with your left hand and take hold of your left ankle. Pull your left foot as close to your left buttock as you can. Hold for a couple of minutes and then repeat the move on your right leg.
Shoulder Stretch
Raise your arms to shoulder height. Place your right elbow in the hollow of your left elbow and raise both forearms until they're perpendicular to the floor. Cross your left forearm in front of your right forearm. Turn the palms of both hands so the thumb sides of each palm are facing you. Grasp your left thumb with your right fingers. Keep an upward pulling motion with both arms to get the maximum stretch across your shoulders. Release after a couple of minutes and repeat on the other side.
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