There are many reasons for seniors to have an active lifestyle that range from preventing physical injuries to improving mental health.
- On the macro level, overall health quality is higher when seniors participate in exercise programs. Individuals who exercise have reduced risks of chronic illnesses and diseases and have improved immune and digestive systems.
- Exercise helps people of all ages maintain or lose body weight. However, our metabolism naturally slows with age, so the importance of exercise increases. Adding cardio and strength training workouts develops muscle mass, and in turn, increases metabolism and burns more calories to promote positive weight loss.
- Regular activity builds healthy bones and helps maintain bone strength in seniors. Exercise works on bones much like it works on muscles — by making them stronger. Because bone is living tissue, it changes in response to the forces placed upon it. When you exercise regularly, your bone adapts by building more cells and becomes denser.
- Frequent physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease and enhances your cardiovascular health. Adding a mix of cardio and strength training will give you an added boost of energy that will improve your heart health overall. However, underlying heart conditions and hereditary diseases will not go away as a result of exercising but staying active can help you maintain a higher quality of life.
- Living an active lifestyle and exercising frequently leads to a variety of mental health benefits. Exercise is shown to help fight depression when muscle generated mood boosters become active and is shown to reduce stress. Maintaining activity levels may even help slow the progression of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
- Falls are serious at any age, but seniors are particularly at risk of injury if bone strength and density are low. Having an active lifestyle will help you stay balanced and prevent falls by building muscle strength and improving bone health later through simple low impact exercises. It’s also recommended that you test your bone density to know your risks of osteoporosis.
- Sedentary individuals tend to have more trouble getting quality rest, but an active lifestyle could help you fall asleep. Adding regular aerobic exercise during the day promotes deeper sleep by raising your core body temperature and encouraging rest when you start to cool down. Working out 2-3 hours before bed will help you stay asleep and leave you waking up refreshed.
- If you’re a senior with hypertension, exercise is medically proven to help lower blood pressure. Adding 30-minutes or more of moderate aerobic exercise, five times a week will measurably reduce blood pressure, lower stress and decrease the risk of some cardiovascular problems.
- For many seniors, having an active social life can be difficult. Some aging adults are increasing their social wellness by making exercise a fun group outing with others in their communities. Whether it’s through joining a walking group or participating in an aerobics class, socializing while working out keeps people young at heart and mentally sharp.
- Exercise is linked to improved cognitive function and better motor skills. Physical activity is also associated with lowering the risk of vascular dementia in seniors. Maintaining a regular fitness routine can help seniors stay focused and allow them to lead a higher-quality life with more energy.
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