Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Today is the 23rd Annual National Senior Health & Fitness Day!!
Today over 100,000 older adults will participate in activities at
more than 1,000 locations throughout the U.S., as we celebrate the 23rd
annual National Senior Health & Fitness Day. The common goal for
this day: to help keep older Americans healthy and fit. This event is
always the last Wednesday in May, National Senior Health & Fitness
Day is the nation’s largest annual health promotion event for older
adults.
There are so many things seniors can do to stay active! You do not have
to run a marathon or climb Mount Everest to stay fit (in fact, we do not
recommend attempting Everest) you can do something as simple as chair
yoga to keep your muscles and bones active.
Best Exercises for Senior Health
To stay fit in your senior years, focus on these three types of exercises:
Flexibility exercises. The
simplest exercises are stretching and flexing, and they tend to become
more important as people get older. The older we get to more we tend to
have range of motion problems in our joints. These exercises maintain
the ability to get around and enjoy your life. Practices such as yoga or
Pilates can improve flexibility; many gyms also offer stretching
exercise programs designed for seniors. Try to stretch every single day.
If you have problems with balance, be sure to do your stretching while
sitting or lying down.
Strength exercises.
Strong muscles are very important to daily living, whether you are
getting out of a chair, or carrying groceries. Strength training can
reduce the rate at which your bones become weaker. If you have a little
more muscle around the bone and you fall, it could help prevent a
fracture. Try to perform strength exercises on all of your major muscle
groups at least twice a week for 30-minute sessions, but do not exercise
the same sets of muscles on back-to-back days. Start with lighter
weights, and then move up as you gain in strength. In addition, be sure
to pay attention to your form to avoid injury. Especially when starting
out, have an instructor spot you. Always make sure to consult your
doctor before starting any new exercise routine.
Aerobic exercises.
Getting your heart rate up can benefit your entire body and make it
easier for you to walk or perform just about any everyday activity.
Depending upon your abilities, you should try to perform at least 30
minutes of moderate-intensity exercise nearly every day of the week. The
main concern would be if individuals have problems with balance they
might want to switch to a treadmill versus walking outside.” This
modification can make the exercise safer.
Getting older should not mean surrendering to a sedentary lifestyle. Staying fit should remain a part of your daily routine.
A SENIOR CONNECTION
We specialize in helping families with Assisted Living, Residential Home Placement and In-Home Care Services.
Let us help find the right care for you; follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.
Sign up for email updates to stay informed.
Facebook Comments