Staying active no matter your age is one of the best ways to live your healthiest life! Simple senior exercises not only improve physical health but boost mental health and mood too.
We’re sharing the incredible benefits of a fitness routine at any age and 3 instructional chair exercise videos to get you started!
8 Benefits of Senior Exercises
It’s so vital to stay active for your mental and physical health and much can be gained from incorporating senior exercises into your daily routine.
Increased muscle strength
Our muscle fibres deteriorate as we age. In fact, between your 20s and your 80s you can lose up to 40% of your muscle mass. This loss of muscle is a major contributor to poor health and disability in seniors.
The good news is, there is something you can do about it: exercise!
Regular exercise, for even a short period of time, will increase muscle and help ward off the health complications that come with muscle decline.
Improve balance, mobility and coordination
These improvements can help reduce the risk of falling so you can avoid the often disastrous repercussions that come with a fall.
Senior exercises improve your gait, balance, and muscle coordination helping you carry yourself better and minimise the chances of falling.
Improve bone density
Encouraging healthy bone density will help reduce the risk of fractures and osteoporosis which can cause deformity and fractures in your spine and hips.
Better mood and overall well being
Even gentle exercise can offer an immediate boost for your mental wellbeing.
A 2019 study of adult men age 65 and older confirmed the mood-boosting benefits of exercise. Research also tells us regular leisure-time exercise of any intensity relieve the symptoms of depression and can help protect against experiencing depressive episodes in the future.
Reduced risk of chronic diseases
The risk of heart disease, cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, and arthritis can be lowered - or avoided - through regular strength training exercises.
If you already have a chronic condition, exercises can minimise symptoms.
Improved sleep
While sleep disturbances and deprivation may be dismissed by some seniors as a mild irritation, not getting enough sleep can impact overall wellbeing and health in ways including compromised immunity, memory loss, mood swings, and lack of focus.
If you or your loved one is struggling to maintain a regular sleep schedule, exercise may help.
Maintain independence
Staying active by walking and engaging in physical activity will help you maintain independence. You’ll be more able to perform activities of daily living on your own compared to seniors who are more sedentary.
Relieve arthritis pain
Although it may seem counterintuitive, moving more can help lessen the pain and stiffness of arthritis.
Chair Workouts: Senior Exercises
It’s clear exercise is great for seniors! Not sure where to get started? The following instructional videos from Seniors' Specialist Physiotherapist and Exercise Scientist, Mike Kutcher from More Life Health are a great place to begin!
You can subscribe to Mike's fantastic YouTube Channel More Life Health and visit the website More Life Health for plenty of simple exercise videos for seniors plus health information to achieve more out of life over 60!
We hope this article and videos will inspire you to get active today and reap the incredible benefits! It's never too late to get started.
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