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Never Too Old to Sweat
Exercise for Seniors By Debbie Friedman
What Are the Benefits?The Administration on Aging is working to educate seniors on the benefits of exercise. Specifically, the body's ability to rebuild and repair itself with regular exercise.
Some benefits include the following:
- Prevention of osteoporosis, where the bones become thin and porous with an increased chance of breaking or affecting mobility.
- Reduction of body fat. Added weight puts added stress on the heart and lungs and on the weight-bearing joints of the knees, hips, ankles and feet.
- Strengthening muscles. Weak muscles can make walking and maintaining balance more difficult for seniors, leading to an increase in falls.
- Physical activity. It provides some protection against chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, adult-onset diabetes, arthritis, hypertension and certain cancers.
- Improving the quality of your life today!
Types of Exercise for Seniors
Take the time to check with your physician before starting an exercise program. If you start slowly, it is very unlikely there will be any restrictions recommended. Exercise activities should fall into three categories:
- Aerobic activities Walking or activities that are "with oxygen," something to get you breathing and your heart beating at a steady pace. Ideally you do something aerobic every day for 20 to 30 minutes. Start slowly and build up. Every other day is fine if it is something you stick with on a regular basis. Many communities now offer water aerobic classes, a nice alternative to the impact of being on pavement. Look for dance, movement or yoga classes as a great way to exercise and have fun. Golf, gardening, soccer and playing with grandkids can all be considered aerobic if done at a steady pace for approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
