Movement, strength, recovery, and why it’s never too late to start
Twenty-five years ago, when we opened Corbett Family Chiropractic, I thought aging well mostly meant trying to “maintain” what we had.
Now, after 25 years in practice, and honestly after the past few years personally as well, I see it very differently.
We cannot stop aging. But we can change how we age.
That shift in perspective has become more and more important to me, both personally and professionally.
Over the years, we have seen people become more sedentary, more stressed, and often more hesitant to move. At the same time, we are also seeing something really encouraging: people wanting more from life as they age. They do not just want less pain. They want energy, confidence, resilience, and the ability to keep doing the activities they love.
That might mean hiking, golfing, gardening, playing with grandchildren, travelling, paddling, strength training, or simply getting through the day feeling stronger and more capable.
For me personally, movement has become less about appearance or “fitness” and more about quality of life.
This year, I have been focusing on better sleep, meal planning, healthier food choices, and building strength safely and consistently. No extreme dieting. No trying to be perfect. Just trying to create momentum.
Recently, I have enjoyed learning more about the importance of protein, movement, and consistency in ways that work in real life. Ben Nazar, MSC (Science with Ben) on Instagram, shares evidence-based information on these topics that I have found helpful.
I have also been influenced by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vonda Wright on Instagram and Facebook, who speaks often about the importance of strength training and mobility as we age, especially for women.
The importance of strength training and cardio
For me, that has looked like prioritizing two strength-training sessions per week and aiming for at least 150 minutes of cardio each week.
What matters most is not doing the “perfect” program. What matters is starting somewhere and continuing to move forward.
Dragon boating has reinforced this lesson for me in a huge way. As I’ve increased my training over the past few years, I’ve learned that getting stronger isn’t just about working harder. Recovery matters. Mobility matters. Sleep matters. Consistency matters.
As my training has increased, I have become less focused on simply pushing harder and more focused on efficiency, recovery, strength, and moving well. I want to be strong enough to safely do the things I love with the people I care about.
And honestly, I do not want to keep waiting for the “perfect” time.
Why this matters more than ever
Because the truth is, movement usually does not get easier with age if we stop doing it.
Yes, we get stiffer. Yes, motivation changes. Yes, life gets busy. That is normal.
But one of the biggest lessons I have learned after 25 years in practice is this: staying where we are is often the same as slowly moving backwards. Like water in a river, life keeps moving whether we participate or not. Discover a more balanced approach to your health.
What we’ve learned after 25 years
1. Rest alone rarely fixes the problem
Rest absolutely has its place, especially during acute injury or recovery. But in the long term, too much rest often creates more stiffness, weakness, and frustration.
Many people feel better when they gradually start moving again, even if it begins very small.
2. Strength matters more than most people realize
This has become one of the biggest shifts in healthcare and rehabilitation over the past decade.
Strength supports balance, bone health, joint stability, confidence, and resilience. We are seeing more and more research supporting the importance of maintaining muscle as we age.
And thankfully, we are also seeing more people start strength training later in life than ever before.
3. Movement does not need to be extreme
Not everyone needs intense workouts, boot camps, or complicated routines. Sometimes movement looks like:
- walking consistently
- improving balance
- getting up from the desk more often
- mobility work
- learning proper lifting mechanics
- gradually rebuilding confidence
Small, consistent habits matter.
4. It is never too late to start
This may be one of the most encouraging things we have seen over 25 years.
We regularly see patients make meaningful changes in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond.
Not perfectly. Not instantly. But steadily.
5. Consistency beats perfection
This applies to almost everything:
- exercise
- recovery
- posture
- mobility
- stress management
- sleep
People often wait until they can “do everything right” before they begin. But real progress usually comes from continuing to do the small things, even when life gets busy.
If you’re wondering where to begin, keep it simple:
o Take a 10-minute walk after dinner.
o Practice sit-to-stand, using your legs to help get yourself off your chair throughout the day.
o Add one strength-training session each week.
o Set a bedtime that allows for consistent sleep.
o Choose one healthy habit and stick with it for a month.
Small changes repeated consistently often lead to the biggest long-term results. The goal is not to do everything at once. The goal is to choose one place to start.
Helping people keep moving with hands-on care
After 25 years, we still strongly believe in hands-on care.
But more than ever, we also believe in helping people keep moving.
Not perfectly. Not fearfully. Not only when pain forces them to.
But consistently, confidently, and in ways that support the life they want to continue living.
And maybe that is one of the biggest lessons aging has to teach us.
Movement is not punishment.
Movement is participation in life.
Take the first step toward feeling better today. Corbett Family Chiropractic is conveniently located in downtown Burlington at 490 Brant Street, 1 driveway south of Caroline Street on the west side. We offer free parking and convenient hours. Browse all of our natural health care services and let’s get started on your wellness journey today.