Simple Exercise Could Boost Strength and Mobility for Older Adults
A fitness coach is sharing a movement technique he says has maintained his own strength and flexibility for 35 years, offering a potential benefit to those seeking to remain active as they age.
Bruce Scott, a fitness coach based in Sydney, Australia, detailed the exercise – which he calls the “Qi Machine” – in an October 2nd social media post. The technique involves a gentle, bouncing motion focused on the knees, designed to utilize the body’s natural elasticity rather than relying on muscular force. “It’ll be covered in much more detail in my upcoming online course. But for now, let’s see if we can find it and let you start exploring it,” Scott said. He explains the movement as a “double bounce in the knee,” allowing ligaments and tendons to act like “rubber bands” to propel the body upward.
Scott emphasizes that the exercise isn’t limited to the legs, and with proper timing, it can become a full-body movement, promoting circulation and a sense of natural breathing. “It circulates blood through the whole body, creates very little metabolic waste because we’re not using the muscle, we’re using the ligament,” he stated, adding that it can also “open the mind, balances the chakras.” Maintaining mobility is crucial as people age, and reduced movement can contribute to a decline in overall health; this exercise offers a low-impact option for improving physical wellbeing. For more information on maintaining fitness as you age, resources are available from the National Institute on Aging.
Scott recommends incorporating this exercise into daily routines for individuals in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. He also offers other mobility routines, such as a 5-minute mobility routine designed to maintain flexibility.
Scott’s team indicated that further details on the Qi Machine exercise will be available in his upcoming online course.
