Home > Lower Mobility
By Dr. Jim Helgas
Last Updated June 4, 2025
As a physical therapist who deals with tight hamstrings myself, I’ve learned firsthand how important it is to keep your lower body loose, strong, and mobile — especially as you get older.
Most people only start thinking about stretching or strength when they’re already in pain. But in reality, it’s what you do before the pain starts that matters most.
Whether it's stiff joints, tight calves, limited range of motion, or just feeling like your body isn't moving the way it used to, these are all signs your foundation is getting weaker.
And when your foundation breaks down, everything else follows — your balance, your strength, your ability to move freely and without hesitation.
What I see over and over — in both patients and friends — is that people either:
Don’t stretch at all
Stretch too lightly to make a difference
Rely on temporary fixes like foam rolling that feel good in the moment but don’t create lasting change
Or do generic exercises that don’t target the right muscles
You can’t unlock your legs by randomly holding stretches or hoping that a quick roll-out will loosen things up. And you definitely can’t fix stiffness with guesswork.
The truth is, if you want to keep your legs strong and your movement fluid as you age, you need to be intentional about how you load and lengthen your muscles — especially your quads, calves, and posterior chain.
I’m not someone who chases trendy tools, but I started using a slant board during my own rehab process — and it completely changed the way I warm up, stretch, and strengthen my lower body.
The one I use is called the Flexwell. It’s a simple wooden board with an adjustable incline that lets you stretch and train key muscles through a full, controlled range of motion.
It might not look fancy, but it solves a huge problem I see all the time: People don’t have a consistent, safe way to load their lower body from home.
With Flexwell, you get:
Multiple incline levels, so it meets you where you're at (beginner or advanced)
The ability to go deeper into stretches without putting your knees or back at risk
A stable platform you can use for daily mobility work in just a few minutes
Most injuries, like Achilles tears or knee strains, don’t just happen by accident; they’re often the result of years of hidden tightness and weak spots.
The Flexwell Board helps correct these issues before they lead to pain or expensive treatments by strengthening key muscles and improving flexibility where it matters most.
I’ve seen firsthand how proactive injury prevention can save my patients thousands in medical bills and months of frustrating rehab.
You don’t need a complicated routine or an hour-long warmup to make real progress. What matters most — especially when it comes to mobility — is what you do consistently.
Even a few minutes a day of targeted movement can change how your legs feel, how your body moves, and how confident you are doing everyday things.
That’s why I like tools that fit into real life. The Flexwell makes it easy to build a simple habit — step on, do one or two moves, and move on with your day. And over time, those small wins start to stack.
I work with a lot of people who assume mobility work means spending 45 minutes stretching on a mat. Or foam rolling every muscle. Or memorizing long warmup routines.
The truth is, you can improve how you move just by targeting the right areas — especially when you can add load, control, and stretch all at once.
That’s what the incline of the Flexwell does. It forces better form, deeper range, and controlled engagement — all without needing to think too hard about it. That’s why I keep coming back to it. It’s simple, but effective.
There are a ton of slant boards out there, but I stick with Flexwell because it checks all the boxes:
Rock-solid construction — doesn’t wobble or slip
4 incline levels — makes it beginner-friendly and advanced-ready
Small footprint — I keep mine near my desk and use it between sessions
No gym required — I’ve had patients start using this at home and feel results in days
I’m not being paid to promote this. I just use it myself and recommend it to patients who want a simple way to reclaim their lower body without fancy equipment, expensive rehab, or complicated routines.