subject: Exercise Tips For The Elderly [print this page] Exercise is important for all agesExercise is important for all ages. Whether you are 10 or 90, daily exercise has great health benefits. A large percentage of adults from the age 65+ are not engaging in physical activities at least once a day. The benefits of even walking for 20 minutes 3 times a week are massive. The bottom line is that seniors could use more exercise, just like the rest of us. These are some of the benefits and cautions of exercising for the elderly from a nursing home in Michigan.
Not only do you feel great, but exercise for the elderly also promotes the quality of sleep you get each night. Physical exercise will help you sleep more easily and deeply at night. Working out can create a social atmosphere. Joining a fitness class or gym is a great way to interact with and meet new people. A brief walk with friends is a great stress reliever. Exercise helps prevent diseases such as Alzheimers disease and dementia as well as improving the brains functionality. It is a great way to battle disease and depression. Exercise promotes weight loss as we all know but it also helps build muscle around joints. For example, building muscle around the knee will prevent the joint from being worn away and save lots of unnecessary pain.
Working out is great for seniors; we use it in our nursing homes in Michigan regularly. Yet there are some precautions that we need to take before starting the grind. Getting checked out by your doctor is necessary. If you have knee problems you dont want to damage it further without knowing. Make sure you warm up. This is important regardless of your age and will prevent injuries and other counterproductive results. Drink lots of water while you are exercising. Water helps your body hydrate and flush toxins out of your system. Regular sips of water will not only make you feel better but will improve your results.
There are many exercises you can practice, but there are a few that are especially beneficial for seniors. Doing leg extensions focus on the muscles around the knees, this helps prolong the lifespan of the joint and will deter the need for knee replacements. Abdominal crunches are great for the abs and lower back, which are crucial to the prevention of back injuries and spasms. Long walks with a friend are perfect for light cardio. Just increase your pace a bit and you will notice a boost in your cardiovascular conditioning. Swimming is one of the best exercises anyone can do. It allows you to stay in shape and even do some cardio with a very low impact on your joints and body. If you have been exercising for a while now and feel you are up to it, running can be a suitable exercise for the elderly. While it is hard to recommend as not everyones body is ready or able to handle the stress, just be sure to check in with your doctor beforehand and confirm that your knees or other joints are up for the challenge.
