In a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was discovered that more than 25% of adults located in the US do not move their bodies regularly.
This is concerning.
Exercise is essential throughout each stage of our lives, for many reasons, but even more so as our bodies start to get older. The benefits of physical exercise for aging adults, in particular, are abundant – including body-moving motivators such as increased longevity of life, the chance to ward off organ disease, heart disease, and other health conditions, and amazingly, even the potential to minimize the risk of developing mind-crippling dementia.
But how can we effectively adapt our exercise routines as we age? Stay with us as we discuss the critical steps older adults should take to maximize their physical health while getting older.
CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR: GETTING PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE BEFORE STARTING A NEW EXERCISE PROGRAM
Keen to focus on your fitness as you start getting older? You likely have more time on your hands to exercise now, especially if you’ve just retired.
Tempting as it is, though, try to take care in terms of launching into a new exercise program – you don’t want to injure yourself or cause strain to your aging joints.
As well as consulting with a qualified personal trainer before starting a new fitness regime, be sure to speak to your doctor. If you have a regular family doctor or family nurse practitioner, they should take an interest in following your endeavor to exercise. Before you take their advice though, be sure that they’ve completed the requisite medical qualification – such as an online FNP program, for example – so that you can feel at ease trusting your treating practitioners’ professional recommendations around exercising.
BE REALISTIC: RE-ALIGNING OUR FITNESS GOALS AS WE AGE
As we age, we need to be realistic about our continued ability to exercise. Our bodies are, unfortunately, unlikely to be able to move in the same ways they used to. With joint pain, back pain, and lower energy levels all coming into play, it’s no wonder we can’t quite hit the same fitness goals as when we were younger. Indeed, just some of the signs of physical decline in older age include:
- A reduction in our muscle mass, joint flexibility, and bone strength.
- Lower levels of stamina, strength, mobility, and endurance.
- Less overall coordination and balance.
- Reduced respiratory function.
- Higher blood pressure and body fat percentage.
- Increased risk of cardiovascular disease, organ disease, and stroke.
This means that as we get older, we need to know our limits. If we’ve never hiked in our lives, our 50s and 60s may not be the time we decide we want to scale Mount Everest. Never weight trained? We may not be suitably placed to pick up a challenging new powerlifting routine.
Despite this, though, it’s always fun to test out a different style of physical activity – within reason of course. Try a dance class, or perhaps low-impact yoga, or even reformer pilates. You’re never too old to get fit or to implement better routines to care for your health. If you do, your aging body will thank you for it.
EXERCISE – AN ESSENTIAL: THE OBSERVABLE IMPACT OF MOVEMENT ON OLDER ADULTS
Exercising regularly as an adult has a multitude of benefits. But regular exercise is not only helpful to maintain your physical fitness. Research has shown that it can also help keep your brain active. So – an important question – can physical exercise reduce the risk of dementia in senior citizens? Both debilitating and devastating, the crippling effects of dementia are distressing to watch unfold. So if we can find a way to avoid it developing in the first place – or at least, stave it off from happening at a less advanced age – why wouldn’t we follow through?
Indeed, mature adults engaging in regular physical activity have been found to decrease their risk of developing the disease by as much as 25%.
If this isn’t enough of a case for incorporating movement into our lives as we get older, we don’t know what is. If the answer is as simple as moving our bodies more frequently, it’s a no-brainer.
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