Senior Citizen Fitness Improves Physical and Mental Health

Leading an active lifestyle is more important than ever as we get older. Although many elderly people think they are too old or too frail to exercise, the opposite is actually true. Whether you assist your loved one or you hire a homecare agency to help, senior citizen fitness is important to maintain and improve health, boost energy, develop strength, and increase confidence.

Benefits of senior citizen fitness exercises include:

• Preventing or delaying disabilities or diseases like heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and obesity

• Reducing the risk of falls

• Decreasing depression and anxiety

• Diminishing arthritis pain

There are many activities that should be included as part of a senior citizen fitness regimen. But before beginning any kind of exercise, it’s important to first consider the senior citizen’s physical and mental limitations, interests, and accessibility of the activity.

Once the senior citizen’s fitness level is determined, it’s time to get moving with a variety of low-impact exercises and activities. Stretching exercises helps the senior citizen keep his or her body flexible and move more easily, as well as improve circulation. Balance exercises reduce the risk of falls and increase agility. Endurance exercises such as walking or dancing improve senior citizen fitness by boosting the heart rate and breathing. Strength exercises are important for building muscle and reducing age-related muscle loss.

Before starting a senior citizen fitness routine, a professional homecare agency will suggest taking several precautions to avoid injuries and strain on the body. These include:

• Starting slow: Ease the senior citizen into the activity and increase the amount of time and effort gradually.

• Stretching: It can be easy to overlook stretching as part of a senior citizen fitness program, but stretching before even moderate exercise will warm up the muscles and prevent injury. Remind the senior to bend from the hips, not the back.

• Hydrating: Make sure the senior ingests more fluids while exercising.

• Wearing safety gear: More active seniors should always wear the appropriate safety gear, such as a helmet when riding a bike.

• Sun protection: Always make sure the senior wears sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat when exercising outside.

• Breathing: Another important aspect of a senior citizen fitness and exercise regimen is breathing properly. This is especially true for strength exercises where irregular breathing can cause changes in blood pressure.

It’s impossible to overestimate the rewards of senior citizen fitness and the many positive physical and mental health benefits. Physical exercise decreases or eliminates chronic disease and illness, helps maintain or lose weight, and increases flexibility, balance, and mobility. The mental benefits of exercising are just as important, and include stimulating the brain, increasing sleep, and improving mood and self-confidence.

Senior citizen fitness exercises can begin to show results right away, regardless of age or physical condition. Better health doesn’t require strenuous workouts. It just takes a little effort, will-power, and ability to engage in moderate exercise to promote better health and improve quality of life.

Learn more about exercise for senior citizens by contacting a professional homecare agency. Visit the experts at www.CambrianHomecare.com or call 877.422.2270.