To maintain a healthy body, make exercise part of your routine. Exercising is not only for the young and energetic but also vital for aging adults. Most studies have been carried out, and they have proven exercise has so many benefits for seniors. Physical fitness improves physical and mental health; seniors who exercise maintain independence even when aging.
Here are the benefits of physical fitness for the elderly.
Benefits of Physical Fitness
Prevent Diseases
Old age comes with diseases like diabetes and joint pain, but when you continue fitness exercises, it will help you to keep the doctor away. As most people age, they do away with physical fitness, and that’s why you will most older people become obese or get diabetes. Exercise will reduce joint pains like arthritis because it helps to maintain muscle strength and reduce the stiffness of your joints.
Regular aerobic exercise is good for your back since it increases your back’s endurance and strengthens your back muscle, reducing backaches in aging adults.
Boosts Immunity
Most elderly are at higher risk of being hospitalized than young people because of their compromised immune systems and other health conditions like cardiovascular disease, obesity, and hypertension. If you have additional health conditions that could lead to increased severity of other chronic diseases, that’s why it is recommended to exercise to improve your immune system regularly
Avoid Risks of Fall
Most seniors are at a risk of falling, which causes deterioration of their health or, at times, causes disability or death in the elderly. Regular exercise in the elderly minimizes the risk of falling, and a professional fitness instructor will train you in balancing and enroll you in programs to prevent falls.
Improve Your Mental Health
Exercise will play an important role in maintaining mental health in your sunset years. When you exercise, your brain produces the feel-good hormone called endorphins which play as a stress reliever in your brain and help you feel happy. Sleeping also helps improve sleeping patterns, especially for seniors who are mostly affected by insomnia and irregular sleeping patterns. The seniors should at least engage in 150 minutes a week doing exercise to sleep better and improve sleeping patterns, and they get depressed less.
Socially Interactive
Joining a fitness class or jogging group kills the boredom and loneliness, especially if you live alone. In the group, you will make social ties and meet other older people giving you a sense of belonging instead of spending your old days depressed and lonely. As long as you love the exercise, you will look forward to each session without feeling like it’s a chore.
Conclusion
Physical fitness is good for you as you age; when you make it a daily routine, your years will be more enjoyable away from diseases or joint pains. With regular exercise, you will have stamina and be at a lower risk of falling, getting stressed, and improving your social ties. It doesn’t matter your age; you can join fitness classes and live a mentally and physically healthy old age. Before starting any exercise, it’s advisable to consult your doctor to guide you on the best exercise for you.
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