Squats are one of the most functional exercises, and doing them regularly as you age helps you preserve strength, muscle and power for activities like climbing stairs or going to the bathroom unaided; in short, strong legs keep you independent.

But not everyone can do squats, whether that's due to mobility, injury, health conditions, or preference. So, I turned to physical therapist Leighton Roberts, managing director at Grosvenor Mobility, for some advice.

“Here are five simple exercises I'd recommend trying, provided they're suitable for your individual health and mobility needs," says Roberts. Read on for the moves and how to do them.

"Maintaining joint strength is essential for staying active, mobile and independent," Roberts tells us. "For those experiencing joint stiffness or reduced mobility, gentle bed exercises are a great starting point. They help strengthen the muscles surrounding your hips without needing specialist gym equipment. An adjustable bed can also offer additional comfort when positioning yourself before and after exercise."

It's up to you where you perform these exercises, of course, whether that's on a bed or using an exercise mat rolled out at home.

"These target the hip flexor muscles, helping with everyday movements such as walking, climbing stairs and lifting your legs," says Roberts.

"Hip bridges strengthen the gluteal muscles, improving hip stability and supporting movements such as standing up and walking."

"These strengthen the outer hip muscles, which help stabilize your pelvis and maintain balance when walking."

"Heel slides encourage gentle movement through the hip and knee joints, helping improve flexibility and relieve stiffness after periods of inactivity."

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