The Modern Definition of Fitness
In generations past, exercise was believed to be mostly for the younger set. It was even believed that older people couldn’t increase muscle mass or strength if they wanted to. Studies at Harvard and elsewhere have now firmly put that myth to rest.
With aging comes slowing metabolism, accumulation of fat, clogged arteries, hypertension, thinning bones, sagging muscles and skin, and a lot of other conditions. Exercise can slow down the onset of these conditions. So who said that those beyond 50 should not exercise anymore? In fact, exercise can slow down or even reverse these unwanted conditions.
Regular and age-appropriate exercise can help aging people retard the onset of various age-related ailments. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, aerobic or oxygen enhancing exercise done 15-60 minutes a few days a week is a great boost to one’s health.
The safe maximum heart rate is 220 beats minus your present age. When you are working out, you should target an increase of between 60% and 90% of this safe maximum. What cardiovascular exercises can you do? Brisk walking for 30 minutes or three 10-minute walks per day, mild jumping jacks, gentle jogging in place, swimming, dancing are some of these exercises. These exercises ensure a healthy heart and blood vessels.
Exercises for strength building ensures toned muscles and helps maintain normal blood sugar levels. According to the National Institutes of Health, there are some 300,000 reported hospital admissions for broken hips per year. And most of these are because of senior people falling. Balance exercises can help in the maintenance of leg muscles. The incidence of falling can be greatly minimized if people have strong leg muscles.
It is recommended that in order to keep the muscles flexible for movement and the joints lubricated, the elderly also do a couple of static and dynamic stretches during their workouts. This improves their ability to balance themselves, but also to make it easier for them to move freely. This will, on the overall, reduce the amount of pain they experience as they go about their daily activities.
Endurance exercises help keep the heart and lungs healthy as well as keeping muscles toned, joints moving freely and other body systems functioning well. A slightly higher metabolic rate stimulates a variety of organs to produce needed biochemicals. The human body functions better, longer when it is subject to mild activity than when sedentary for long periods.
All these activities help raise the onset age of osteoporosis and to minimize its effects after it begins. Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus is less likely for the physically active. Certain forms of heart disease are less likely for those who exercise moderately later in life.
Many elderly people experience episodes of depression and low morale because they are left with no family and friends most of the time. There is evidence that with mild and regular exercise, these episodes are minimized.
Before beginning any sort of exercise regimen, older people should seek the advice of both their doctors and a trained exercise trainer. This can ensure that they are going about exercising the right way.
If you have a medical condition, be sure to discuss your plans with a physician and sports expert to develop an exercise routine appropriate to you.
