Now that the warmer months of more exercise-friendly weather have departed, more discipline is needed for seniors to get in their daily exercise routines. Why am I such a crusader for moving the aging body? The truth is, Sun Citians, you can’t afford to not get moving! Regular exercise can help boost energy, maintain your independence, and manage symptoms of illness or pain. Exercise can even reverse some of the symptoms of getting older. As you age, regular exercise is more important than ever to your body and mind.
Physical health benefits of senior exercise and fitness include the following:
1. Exercise helps seniors maintain or lose weight. Exercise speeds up your metabolism because it produces more muscle mass that helps to burn more calories.
2. Exercise reduces the impact of illness and chronic disease. By relieving the older person’s stress levels, exercise improves the body’s immune system functioning. It also provides for better heart health and blood pressure and improved bone density and normal digestive functioning. Seniors who move their bodies regularly also have a lowered risk of several chronic conditions. Among these are Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis, and colon cancer.
3. Exercise enhances mobility, flexibility, and balance in seniors. It is used to help the post-surgical patient use his new body part more efficiently without great time delay. Because a regular movement program improves your strength, flexibility, and posture, your balance, coordination, and risk for falls is affected. Strength training also helps alleviate the symptoms of chronic conditions such as arthritis.
Mental health benefits of senior exercise and fitness include the following:
1. Exercise improves your sleep, helping you fall asleep more quickly and sleep more deeply.
2. Exercise boosts mood and self-confidence. Endorphins produced by exercise can actually help you feel better and reduce feelings of sadness or depression. Being active and feeling strong naturally help you in building self-confidence.
3. Exercise is good for the brain. With your circulatory system bringing a full supply of oxygen to your brain, your brain remains more active. This contributes to prevent memory loss, cognitive thinking decline, and dementia. Exercise is now being studied and thought to even slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
No matter your age or your current physical condition, you can benefit from exercise. Reaping the rewards of a movement regimen doesn’t require strenuous workouts or trips to the swimming pool or to the gym, necessarily. It’s about adding more movement and activity to your life, even in small ways. Whether you are generally healthy or are managing an illness – even if you are housebound – there are many easy ways to get your body moving, thus improving your health.
“From research so far, any activity as you age impacts in a positive way, not only on your physical health, but also on your mental health,” Cathy Segarra, nurse with the Wellness Department, said. “As research continues, the info continues to be positive on exercising as you age.”
Next: Part 2: Let’s Get Started!
