Exercising and Senior Health

For people of all ages, exercise is exceptionally important. It is something that can make you feel better about your self, in addition to making your body healthier. Among seniors, staying active and participating in regular exercise has been shown to be very important to staying healthy and reducing the risk of a fall.

It is estimated that close to ninety percent of seniors do not get enough exercise. Frequently, a senior will loose weight as they age and usually, muscle mass is lost first. Without eating healthy and performing exercise, the lost muscle can be very detrimental to a senior’s health.

There are many benefits that regular exercise holds for a senior. Among them an increase in balance can be very important, because many falls are as a result of a reduction in balance. An improved level of flexibility, which can be achieved when performing the right types of exercise, can also make a big difference in arthritis pain. Another advantage is that exercise has actually been shown to prevent the contraction of certain types of diseases. Osteoporosis is among the diseases that can be prevented, in part, due to regular exercise.

There are many other physical benefits of exercise for seniors, but the benefits are not restricted only to physical ones. Exercising has been shown to help increase mental capacity and a person’s psychological health. Part of this is attributed to the extra social interaction that can be achieved when attending a senior workout group, which are usually offered by places like the YMCA and many senior centers.

While exercise is very important to the health of a senior, the type of exercise is almost as important, if not more so. The exercise should be low impact and low stress, to reduce the risk of injury. It is a good idea to talk with your doctor about what types of exercises would be good for you. Getting a checkup is also a good idea before a senior begins to work out. This means that jumping out and buying a weight set is not a good idea.

One very popular sport among seniors is water aerobics. This involves going to a pool and performing low impact stretches and exercises in the water. One of the great things about this type of exercise is that it can be a lot of fun. Almost everyone enjoys the pool, this is a great way to make exercise not seem like exercise at all.

Most swimming pools offer a seniors water aerobic class, which is also a great way to meet others. The types of exercises preformed vary by individual. In a pool, movements are much easier and can be preformed without stress to the body. It is possible to work every muscle in the body or only a select few, so performing water aerobics can be used by people of many different physical capabilities.

If you have your own pool, it is a good idea to attend a water aerobics class with an instructor. This way, you can receive professional instruction and meet some new friends. Also, since some personal pools are quite often unheated and located outdoors, you might be exposed to potential hazards, which can be avoided by visiting an indoor pool.

Before performing any exercises it is a good idea to check with your doctor.