How old is too old to exercise?
If you ask some of my clients that are in their 70’s and 80’s, they would tell you remaining active is key to their health and longevity. Staying physically active and exercising regularly can help prevent or delay many diseases and disabilities.
Exercising helps your muscles grow stronger so you can keep doing your day-to-day activities without becoming dependent on others. Scientists find that even moderate exercise can improve the health of people who are experiencing the signs of aging, or who have diseases that accompany aging.
Exercise has a positive effect on all systems of the body including heart-lung performance, muscular-skeletal activity, neurological efficiency and body composition. No matter what your age, exercise and physical activity is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself.
I have found that some older adults are reluctant to exercise because they are afraid that it will be too strenuous, or even worse, will harm them. Many studies show quite the opposite. They have found that exercise is safe for people of all ages and, in fact, lack of exercise could be more harmful to the health of older adults.
Even if you have not engaged in regular exercise during your life, it’s not too late to start. Inactive lifestyles can cause older people to become weak in four areas that are important for staying healthy and independent: strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. Research has shown that exercise can help older people maintain or partly restore these four areas.
I use a combination of Whole Body Vibration training and exercise using one’s own body weight to provide a low impact workout for older adults. Research suggests the benefits of Whole Body Vibration can include:
- Increased balance and reach
- Increased walking speed
- Improved posture
- Increased flexibility
- Decrease in falls
- Increased muscle mass
- Increased bone density
- Reduced incident and severity of hip fractures
- Improved sleeping habits
- Improved quality of life
- Weight Loss
In a previous study, older adults performing four one-minute-long Whole Body Vibration exercise sessions three times per week for six weeks experienced 143 percent improvement in physical function; 77 percent improvement in equilibrium; 57 percent improvement in walking; and 41 percent reduction in pain.
A session on a Whole Body Vibration plate can be a great low impact workout or a high intensity workout depending on the client, making this a perfect exercise program for people of all ages.
Growing older doesn’t mean people have to lose their strength or their ability to perform everyday activities. Exercise can help everyone, no matter what age, feel healthier and enjoy life more. Making exercise a regular part of your daily routine, will have a positive impact on your quality of life.
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Mike Bundrant is co-founder of the iNLP Center and host of Mental Health Exposed, a Natural News Radio program.
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