Use it… or lose it!
Did you know that more than 90% of retirees in the United States get virtually no meaningful exercise?
In addition, more than 50% of these people are totally sedentary (physically inactive).
Unfortunately, because of some common myths, many seniors are not comfortable exercising. Some feel too old or too frail to exercise, while others believe their medical condition prevents them from performing strenuous activity. However, the good news is that a lot of recent studies have shown that exercise need not be strenuous and seniors of any age can safely exercise and that the benefits of exercise for seniors far outweigh the risks.
Therefore, today, seniors are exercising well into their 80s and 90s, and the fitness experts are developing new ways to welcome seniors into various fitness programs and activities. The key, however, is to understand the difference and your body’s specific needs. Each age group needs a specialized fitness program. Just as a child cannot exercise like a teenager, a senior does not need to exercise the same as a young adult.
Health & fitness benefits in seniors
Staying fit as a senior citizen can be fun and beneficial at the same time and is associated with a variety of mental and physical advantages such as:
Improved skin healing
The body’s ability to heal or regenerate even small skin wounds is one of those things that slow as we age. According to a new study, however, regular exercise by older adults may speed up the wound-healing process by as much as 25 percent.
Enhanced body balance
Developing Good balance is critical element of healthy aging. It should be remembered that
balance has less to do with strength and everything to do with an elderly person’s ability to get around and live independently. According to research, certain exercises, if done properly and regularly, can help elderly improve their body balance, posture and shape. This naturally results in lesser risk for falls and hip fractures, which are quite common in this age group.
Reduced risk of many old age diseases
Fitness after fifties can help reduce the risk or postpone the development of arthritis (disease of joints), osteoporosis (disease of bones) and heart disease. It keeps heart, lungs, veins and arteries (all of which are involved in supplying oxygen to our muscles) replenished and functioning properly.
Healthy heart and blood vessels
Some of the major benefits of achieving and maintaining fitness in old age include less chances of coronary heart disease, reduced risk of high blood pressure, decreased resting heart rate so that the heart does not need to work as hard to pump the blood into the body.
Diabetes control and prevention
Similarly, performing regular exercise and staying physically active in old age play a significant role in maintaining and normalizing blood sugar levels by improving blood circulation and consuming extra amount of glucose that tends to accumulate in our body. This results in better blood sugar control and also acts as a safety valve against diabetes mellitus.
Improved quality of life
According to several studies, if you are physically fit and active in the old age, you will have improved quality and duration of sleep, improved cognitive function (memory and intelligence) and low risk of depression and anxiety. Performing regular exercise also improves short-term memory and results low risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Finally, while it’s true that as people age, they have to work harder than the young, a lot of the declines that are attribute to aging may be reversed with proper fitness training. However, while performing various physical activities and workouts, seniors must be well-aware of both the limitations and possibilities of their bodies. Therefore, before starting any exercise program, everyone should have a thorough physical checkup and get the go-ahead from his or her physician. Staying fit as a senior citizen can be fun and beneficial at the same time.
Remember, our bodies are programmed to grow or decay, and staying fit and active tells the body to grow!
Dr.Ikram Abidi – M.B.B.S (Dow), PGD (HIMS), CBCMT, CHSA
Dr. Ikram Abidi is an internationally acclaimed medical wordsmith and pharmaceutical researcher who enjoys a global readership for his well-versed and uniquely written articles, newsletters, e-books, web content and blogs.
A medical graduate from one of the top medical universities in Asia, Dr.Abidi has done clinical rotations in various medicine specialty wards in one of the largest public hospitals of South East Asia. He’s also achieved a diploma in business administration while completing courses in medical transcription and hospital services administration.
A full-fledged medical doctor, Dr.Abidi is currently working as a dedicated health feature writer and researcher with weight loss, fitness and nutrition as his specialty. His particular topics of interest include natural supplements, exercise and fitness, obesity, interaction of human body and disease, prevention and management of various chronic conditions e.g. obesity and diabetes.
