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It\u2019s normal and natural for bodies to change as they age. Even healthy bodies experience a gradual decline in muscle mass<\/a> and bone density as they get older\u2014it\u2019s part of life. However, there are ways to support your body through aging to help you maintain strength<\/a> and mobility<\/a>\u2014namely, by moving it.<\/p>\n Walking<\/a>, for instance, is widely considered a powerful anti-aging intervention that research suggests<\/a> can reduce the risk of chronic age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Another activity acclaimed for its ability to slow aging? Strength training<\/a>.<\/p>\n Research published in the journal Biology<\/a> found that 90 minutes of strength training a week was associated with a lower biological age\u2014a reduction of nearly four years. There\u2019s one exercise in particular, however, that personal trainer and former orthopedic surgeon Dr Kate Ella<\/a> does every single day to delay aging and protect her body as she gets older\u2014and it\u2019s so simple, she does it in her pajamas while brushing her teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cBy doing this exercise consistently I feel stronger and fitter so that everyday life is easier (and more fun),\u201d she says. \u201cIt allows me to take the opportunities that come my way, whether that\u2019s climbing a hill or a climbing wall, and swimming<\/a> in the sea or the waterpark.\u201d<\/p>\n Introducing: the high-heeled squat.<\/strong> What is the high-heeled squat?<\/p>\n Picture your standard bodyweight squat\u2014feet are hip-width apart, you bend at the knees and lower until your thighs are roughly parallel to the floor, only you don\u2019t drive back up through your whole foot. Instead, you shift your weight to your toes and rise on the balls of your feet. This is a high-heeled squat.<\/p>\n What are the benefits of doing high-heeled squats?<\/p>\n There are a number of reasons Dr Kate Ella incorporates the high-heeled squat into her daily routine:<\/p>\n \u2022 It helps to improve balance by strengthening the ankles and feet, and teaching the body how to move safely when it has less stability (in this case, because the weight is in the balls of the feet). \u201cBalance is something I\u2019m particularly aware of as a former orthopedic surgeon who\u2019s treated 100s of broken hips,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u2022 It builds thigh and glute strength<\/a>. \u201cThis is key to making sure you can get off the floor in your 80s,\u201d Dr Kate Ella says. That said, progressive overload<\/a> is important for building strength and muscle so, if you are able to, consider including additional strength training exercises in your routine, such as deadlifts<\/a> and weighted squats, and gradually increasing the difficulty over time.<\/p>\n \u2022 It builds vastus medialis strength. \u201cThis is an important muscle to stabilize your knees and help with knee pain<\/a>, which affects so many of us as we get older,\u201d says Dr Kate Ella.<\/p>\n \u2022 It builds calf strength. This, Dr Kate Ella says, is crucial for walking mechanics \u201cso that you can push off when taking a step and it doesn\u2019t feel like you\u2019re walking through mud.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 It improves ankle stability and mobility. \u201cThis is essential for getting around and getting down to the ground, and something I’m very aware of having spent a year researching broken ankles for my MD.\u201d<\/p>\n
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