Stay Hip, Stay Fit
A Look Into How Older Adults Can Stay Fit
What Do I Need to Know?!
As people begin to age the desire to want to do physical activities tend do decrease. According to the CDC by the age of 75 nearly 1 in 3 men and 1 in two women engage in no physical activity. However, this can do more harm than good. By staying active older adults are able to keep a number of health problems under wraps. The risk for falls, fractured bones, dying from coronary heart disease, developing high blood pressure, colon cancer and diabetes are all reduced by staying active. If you are looking to begin doing physical activities be sure to consult with your doctor with any new programs. Also, if you are looking to get out of a sedentary lifestyle start with short intervals of 5-10 minutes to see how your body tolerates the change in activity level. Take a look at this web page if you are interested in learning more about different activities that you can do to stay active, what the health benefits are of establishing an activity routine, and where you can go for help within the community. (Text should be larger however program will not allow me to do so)
What Activities Can I Do? and How Will this Help Me?
Golf
Benefits: Cardiovascular endurance, increase bone strength, improved mood and decreased stress levels, decreasing body fat percentage, increasing muscle strength, lower cholesterol levels
Fencing
Benefits: Strength and endurance, increased anaerobic fitness, emphasizes agility, alertness and endurance, increased mental agility, increased flexibility, stress reduction, increased balance, increased coordination, cardiovascular health
Nature Walks
Benefits: Improves circulation, can stop loos of bone mass associated with osteoporosis, leads to a longer life, lightens mood, lead to weight loss, strengthens muscles, improves sleep, supports your joints, slows mental decline, and lowers Alzheimer's risk
Gardening
Benefits: Stress relief and boosts self-esteem, raises heart health and lowers stroke risks, increases hand strength and dexterity, increasing brain health and lowers the risk of Alzheimer's, regulates your immune system, decreases depression and mental health
Water Aerobics
Benefits: Raised cardiovascular health, protects joints by not being high impact, fall prevention, increases metabolism, higher energy levels
Yoga
Benefits: increased flexibility, increased muscles strength and tone, increased balance, balanced metabolism, cardio and circulatory health, protection from injury
Tell Me More...Tell Me More!
Now its time to start getting into the nitty gritty of establishing a healthy and active lifestyle as an older adult. Well, news flash! it takes a lot of the same ideologies as it does throughout your younger life. Beginning with a healthy diet made up of mostly fruits, veggies, and a well established balance of grains, fats and dairy products. However our focus is going to be more on how the activities you choose to do can benefit you health. The physical activity chosen does not need to be strenuous in order to achieve health benefits. Not only is aerobic endurance improved engaging in physical activity will increase your muscle strength which in turn helps reduce fall risk and improve your balance. Building up your muscle can also help to control joint swelling and pain that is associated with arthritis.
Where Can I Go for Help?
There are many different areas that an elderly person can go to get help and begin their journey to a healthy lifestyle. Below are listed a few of the resources but the internet can also be a huge benefit and resource to go to.
Community Center
Local Park Information Center
Health Care Providers
But I'm too Old!
Many older adults think that they are too old or not in well enough health to go out and do physical activities. In some cases this may be true however, in the majority it is not the case. Barriers that the older adult may come across include:
- Do not have enough time to exercise
- Find exercise boring
- Fear of being injured
- Lack of encouragement, support of companionship from family or friends
- Lack confidence in their ability to be physically active
Each of these barriers are easy to overcome if you really put your mind to it. It all beings with the first step toward wanting a healthy life style.
Sources
Bean, J.F, Vora, A. & Frontera, W.R. (2004). Benefits of Exercise for Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 85 (7), 3rd ser., S31. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
Gangaway, J. M. (2010). Older Adults: The need for exercise and the benefits of aquatics. Geriatric Rehabilitation, 26(2), 82. Retrieved February 3, 2016.