Remaining active as you age is extremely important to your overall health. Regular exercise helps you to maintain independence, boost energy levels, manage illness or pain, increases good mood feelings, and helps keep your mind and memory sharp.
Starting a regular exercise program may seem intimidating, especially if you haven’t regularly exercised for most of your life. Illnesses, injuries, and general aches and pains can all throw a wrench in plans to exercise. Although these may seem like good reasons to take it easy, getting up and moving can actually decrease symptoms associated with aging. Keep these tips in mind as you think about beginning a workout regimen:
- Consult with your doctor. Tell your doctor of your plans to start exercising, and make sure you address any health risks that may arise. Your doctor can even give you tips on how to start, and what types of exercises to do.
- Exercise doesn’t require a strenuous workout. Simply adding more movement to your daily life will prove beneficial. Look for fun, low impact activities, such as walking or dancing.
- Don’t forget about strength training. Strength training helps prevent bone and muscle loss, and helps increase balance. There are numerous strength training exercises using resistance bands — some even require sitting in a chair!
- Anyone can exercise! No one is too young or too old to work some movement into their life. Exercise can be a chance to have fun with friends or loved ones. It doesn’t have to be hard. Find what works for you.
There are, however, some myths that Joey, our resident physical therapist, would like to bust about exercising as you get older.
Myth #1: “There’s no point to exercising. I’m going to get old anyway.”
Fact: Exercise and strength training help you look and feel younger, and stay active longer. Regular physical activity lowers your risk for a variety of conditions, including Alzheimer’s and dementia, heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity.
Myth #2: “Older people shouldn’t exercise. They should save their strength and rest.”
Fact: Research shows that a sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy for adults over 50. Inactivity often causes older adults to lose the ability to do things on their own, and can lead to more hospitalizations, doctor visits, and use of medicines for illnesses.
Myth #3: “Exercise puts me at a risk of falling down.”
Fact: Regular exercise, by building strength and stamina, prevents loss of bone mass, and improves balance, actually reducing your risk of falling.
Myth #4: “It’s too late. I’m already too old to start exercising.”
Fact: You’re never too old to exercise! If you’ve never exercised before, or it’s been a while, start with light walking and other gentle activities.
Myth #5: “I’m disabled. I can’t exercise sitting down.”
Fact: Chair-bound people face special challenges, but can lift light weights, stretch, and do chair aerobics to increase range of motion, improve muscle tone, and promote cardiovascular health.
At Silvercrest Garner, Happiness starts with healthiness. That is why we have Joey Ward as part of our team. Joey is a personal trainer that works exclusively with our residents, and is “Silver Sneaker” certified. Stop in anytime to see Joey and participate in one of our exercise programs, or just to experience IHappiness for yourself.
We hope that Silvercrest Garner will be that perfect place for you. For more information, or to set up a tour, contact 563-386-9196, or visit
www.GarnerFarms.com. Located at 1575 West 53rd Street, Davenport, IA.
Photo credit: Steve Debenport/iStock