Dec 14, 2023 | News
Active ageing is all about giving everyone the chance to enjoy health, enjoyment and participation in life as they grow older. Key to this is regular exercise, which plays a crucial role in helping older people maintain health and well-being, and therefore quality of life.
As you grow older, your body undergoes a natural decline in muscle mass, bone density and cardiovascular function. This can lead to a range of health problems such as reduced mobility, higher risk of chronic disease and a decline in cognitive well-being. Exercise can play a significant role in mitigating these effects and helping seniors lead a more fulfilling life.
What are the benefits of exercise for older people?
1. Helps you do the things you love for longer
Exercise helps preserve muscle mass and strength, and this helps to maintain and even improve mobility and independence. Love taking a Sunday stroll with the grandchildren or walking the dog each morning? Dreading the day you can’t carry the shopping home or climb the stairs? By continuing to incorporate regular activity into your life, you are giving yourself the best chance of being able to continue the healthy habits and hobbies you already have – and even taking up new ones.
It also has a positive effect on balance and flexibility, which not only aids independence, but means you’re reducing your chances of falls and other accidents, keeping you safer in your day-to-day life.
2. Helps reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke
By regularly engaging in aerobic activities that get your heart rate up, you can help your heart stay healthy and reduce the chance of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes, as well as conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Good exercises for older people to help improve cardiovascular health include walking, swimming, dancing and gentle cycling.
3. Helps keep your brain sharp reduce your risk of dementia
Exercise has plenty of cognitive benefits as well as physical ones. Research has shown that exercise helps to boost cognitive performance, memory and mood – and could even reduce the risk of dementia in older people. It promotes mental well-being, through the release of neurotransmitters called endorphins, which help to improve mood and limit symptoms of depression and anxiety, which are common among older people.
What are the best exercises for older people?
The best exercises for older people really depend on your existing health and capabilities, your lifestyle and your preferences. Low-impact activities such as yoga, swimming and water aerobics are easier on the joints yet full of benefits.
More vigorous exercises such as cycling are suited to those with a reasonably good level of fitness, while walking is one of the most underrated exercises out there. It helps improve your cardiovascular function, muscle mass and strength and it’s free. It can also be done anywhere, at any pace, both solo and in groups, meaning it offers plenty of social opportunities as well as chances to take in fresh air and natural scenery.
Before starting or increasing any exercise routine, be sure to check in with your doctor to make sure it’s suitable for your health and physical ability. Make sure, too, that you use the correct equipment for whatever activity you choose – a good quality yoga mat for example, or a pair of comfortable and supportive walking shoes.
For advice or help maintaining a high quality of life as you or a loved one grows older, contact OxleyCare today.