We all know how important it is to stay active and healthy, especially in later life. Unfortunately, as we get older it becomes ever more difficult to keep up a regular schedule of exercise, and no matter how healthy we are there are a few things we’re just not capable of any more. A five mile jog may have been a breeze in the past, but when your joints creak in protest at even a slow pace it’s very possible that your exercise regime does more harm than good.
It’s important, then, to take your age into account when you plan your exercise regime, so these exercise tips for older people will help keep you fit and healthy well into your golden years.
Older people face different physical exercise challenges than the young, and to keep fit they should focus on three core areas to keep you looking and feeling young and healthy.
1. Cardio Endurance
As with most exercise tips for older people it is recommended a low impact cardio training to maintain your large muscle groups. Cycling, swimming, walking and even dancing will help improve your body’s ability to oxygenate your blood and deliver nutrients to tissues. Cardio exercise is perhaps the most beneficial type of exercise for older people.
2. Flexibility
Joints tend to weaken in later life, especially in sedentary folk, and little things that used to be so easy suddenly become a challenge. Day to day activities such as showering and tying shoelaces can suddenly prove too difficult to achieve without help, and the main reason for this is a lack of flexibility.
To keep your joints supple there’s a simple rule: use it or lose it. Every day you should make sure to stretch for a little while. Keep your joints active and your flexibility will never diminish.
3. Balance
More than any other group, older people often have balance issues that in serious cases can lead to falls and hospitalizations. Balance is one of those things that you never really notice until you lose it, and it can be disconcerting to find that you’re not as steady on your feet as you once were.
The best way to maintain your sense of balance is to try activities such as yoga and Tai Chi. Both of these focus on posture, and you’ll find yourself using long-neglected muscles that help you build that strong, stable core you need for good balance.
So… endurance, flexibility and balance. Our exercise tips for older people should help you maintain and even build on all three of these areas. With a little exercise you should stay fighting fit for the rest of your days. All you have to remember is that old age doesn’t have to mean ill health.
I’m a recently graduated nurse and I work in a private health center supporting eldier people during their training session. I’d like reading and writing about everything, but nursing topics are the one with which I’m up to speed.