Exercise is Key for Health in Older Adults

We’ve talked a lot about the importance of exercise here for weight loss.  But I have yet to discuss the benefits for the older generation, so I have chosen to write a post on this subject today.  I want to throw a question out there: how many of our grandmas and grandpas or elderly loved ones are getting a regular workout or exercise?  (That’s what I thought.)  Yet perhaps if they knew that climbing the stairs, housework, walking and even washing would be made easier if they worked out two or three times a week, they might see things differently.  Here’s why.  People lose muscle as they age, often making daily chores more difficult, but working out with small weights or elastic bands can help to rebuild these muscles and risks of developing an injury stay low.

One recent study found older adults seem to benefit from this type of exercise even at the age of 80 and simply having enough strength to do things such as carrying groceries would make a difference for senior (citizens).  And exercise does not require expensive equipment or lots of spare time; just going outside at lunchtime for a half-hour walk every day can greatly increase fitness levels. One of the best ways to counteract feeling ill and tired which is one of the main reasons people don’t exercise – is by becoming more active, which gives you more energy.

So how do you get started?  Find an activity that you enjoy, such as dancing or gardening; this makes it much easier to maintain the sort of lifestyle that includes regular exercise.  Ideally, elderly folks would combine resistance training plus aerobic exercise for the best way to reduce insulin resistance and functional limitations in obese, older adults.  Resistance and aerobic exercise are thought to be important for cutting the risks of chronic disease and disability in older adults but the incremental effects of combined resistance and aerobic exercise compared with either modality alone on risk factors for disease and disability is not known yet.  Another bonus of exercise for older adults?  You guessed it—it aids erectile dysfunction.  This has already been shown to improve relationships for a longer lasting and happier life.  So get moving!