Though doctors constantly stress the need for exercise regularly, most seniors think that the necessity for exercise decreases with age. It becomes easy to forget about exercise as routines change. Living a sedentary life can result in metabolic disorders and other diseases related to physical inactivity.
Though seniors cannot lift heavy weights and run long miles, even gentle walks, and in-chair exercises can prove to be beneficial. Regular exercise improves the physical and mental health of the elderly. Elderly people should perform exercises regularly while making it fun and routine. Here are the top seven reasons seniors should continue to exercise as they age.
1. Maintain mobility
Elderly adults like to retain physical function as they age. Regular moderate exercise can build muscle and stamina and enhance balance and flexibility. It is also effective at reducing symptoms of arthritis which can make it difficult moving around.
All these advantages of exercise help seniors move about easily while minimizing the risks of slipping and falling. This can, in turn, promote the general well-being and mood of elderly people who would otherwise face problems like stress, insomnia, and depression. Increased mobility and independence also eliminate the need to hire caregivers for senior loved ones.
2. Improved Cognitive Function
Exercise is a powerful preventive strategy for cognitive dysfunction-related diseases like dementia. It is known to slow down the mental decline in seniors. Recently, a study performed on older adults showed a 66% reduction in risk of dementia when moderate-intensity exercises were included in their routines.
Every elderly senior should consider exercising regularly to lower the risk of cognitive decline and prevent mental disability at later stages in life. Regular exercises help produce more mood-boosting hormones and fight signs of insomnia to improve cognitive function. The mental health benefits of exercise are numerous. Regular physical activity can relieve stress and keep the person happy and content.
3. Reduced Risks of Falls
Elderly adults have a much higher rate of falls and this can prove to be disastrous for maintaining the functional independence that most of the seniors want as they age. Moderate exercise daily improves one’s flexibility and strength to help improve coordination and balance. This reduces the risk of falls to a considerable extent.
As seniors take quite a long to recover from the effects of falls and accidents, anything that helps avoid such conditions is extremely important. Physical inactivity can weaken and disable the joints and muscles, increasing the chances of falling and slipping in elderly adults.
4. Increased Independence
Many adults like to maintain functional independence Nothing can help accomplish this better than daily exercise including proper balance and strength training. Elders should aim to remain physically active for at least thirty minutes a day and perform strength training two days a week to increase mobility and balance. Exercise also minimizes the risk of falls thereby promoting independence.
Seniors can go out for walks or exercise at fitness centers to connect and socialize with other people instead of leading a lonely life. Social interaction and engagement improve the conditions of elderly loved ones to a considerable extent, enhancing their well-being and longevity. A sedentary life, on the other hand, can make an elderly person dependent on caregivers for daily chores.
5. Decreased Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke
People who exercise in their later years can reduce the risks of heart disease through effective management of blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Regular activity can also reduce the chances of obesity which leads to heart problems and attacks. Many seniors develop diabetes as the body starts facing difficulty regulating blood sugars as it ages.
Exercise forces the body to use blood glucose instead of building it up damaging the muscle and nerve cells. Exercise also strengthens the heart and circulatory system so that blood pumps with less effort. Weight loss from physical activity further reduces the risk of blood pressure to save the senior from complications like diabetes, stroke, dementia, and heart problems.
6. Prevention of Metabolic Dysfunction
Obesity and diabetes are two conditions closely associated with each other. These are the conditions in which the body is in metabolic dysfunction. Regular exercise can help elderly people maintain appropriate body weight and regulate their insulin levels, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure to keep the body efficient.
Exercising is a great way to manage these conditions’ symptoms and prevent them from developing in later years of life.
7. Prevention of Osteoporosis and Arthritis
As people get older, their bodies cannot generate new bone tissues at the same rate as they are removed. This causes weakened and brittle bones. A study suggested that exercise prevents loss of bone density and builds muscles that protect and cushion the bones against fractures. Exercise is also one of the best treatments for arthritis.
Regular moderate activity aids in reducing stiffness and inflammation while getting rid of pain for people suffering from arthritis. Obesity being a risk factor for arthritis, increased physical activity helps combat the symptoms of the disease.
Final Thoughts
Exercise is good in many ways for the elderly people and it is easy to include in everyday life by prioritizing it. In the elderly, regular activity has been shown to lower the risks of falls, prevent diseases, improve mental health and independence, strengthen social engagement, and improve cognitive function. If you or your loved one live a sedentary lifestyle, we hope this post provides the necessary encouragement to start exercising. Moderate-intensity exercise can improve the quality of life of elderly loved ones by boosting independence and mental health.
