Age-proof YOUR JOINTS

Keep moving with ease and banish those aches and pains through the winter months thanks to this simple at-home workout plan

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Sore knees? Achy hips? It isn't just due to ageing. Oestrogen drops during the menopause, which can lead to aches and stiffness. And a drop in temperature can make moving more difficult too, by reducing blood flow and causing joint tissue to expand.

Luckily, a workout can make all the difference. Our exercises below will do just that.

HEEL RAISE

Place your heels together with your toes pointing out and squeeze your inner thighs together. Raise heels up so you're standing on the balls of your feet, then lower back down softly.

Top tip – imagine you have a strip of Velcro underneath your foot that you are peeling off the floor from heel to toe with each step.

FORWARD LUNGE

From a standing position, take a big step forward with one leg and lower your body down slowly so that your front leg is bent at a 90-degree angle. Raise yourself up and return your leg to the starting position. Switch sides and repeat to complete a rep.