Aging Doesn't Have To Be An Obstacle To A Healthy Lifestyle

Last updated: Oct 2022

Great Fitness Exercises For An Easy Life And Enjoyment

 Written by Elizabeth Blasi, Learn how exercise can improve our daily lives.

As we all know, exercise is crucial for staying in tip-top shape. But why? Staying healthy isn’t only about eating a well-balanced diet. Exercise benefits seniors in ways that can be much more than a slim waistline and strong muscles. Regular exercise can positively impact our bodies, mental well-being, and organ and bone strength.

Aaptiv can help you regularly work out by offering scheduling capabilities and workouts designed to fit into your busy life.

Below, we’ve spoken to physical therapists to explain how exercise can enhance our daily lives and make us more comfortable with age.

Squeeze in a killer workout anywhere, anytime. Start a 30-day free Aaptiv trial.

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Increases Cardiovascular Strength

Whether participating in cardio exercises (such as running and swimming) or strength training (such as lifting and resistance), exercise benefits seniors by improving their endurance level. This means simple movements such as climbing stairs, doing household chores, or performing your favorite hobbies will be easy to keep up with as you age. “[The] addition of exercise into your routine will greatly improve your cardiovascular performance by strengthening your heart and reducing overall blood pressure, leading to increased endurance and energy levels,” says physical therapist Kristen Wilson.

Reduces Risk of Dementia

Regular exercise delivers oxygen and removes unnecessary waste from our muscles and organs. One area, particularly the brain, benefits immensely from this process. 
According to Wilson, by maintaining adequate blood flow to the brain, your body removes harmful waste products. These can hinder memory, processing, and standard problem-solving over time, ultimately leading to dementia.

Improves Bone Health

We can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and osteopenia by focusing on weight training and muscle-strengthening exercises (which require our bones to do more work). When faced with greater demand, our bones respond, Wilson says. “[They] create and build more bone, according to a process referred to as Wolff’s law.”

Aaptiv’s strength training classes include visual workout guides to practice the correct form with every exercise.

Makes You Happier

To quote Legally Blonde, “Endorphins make you happy!” Believe it or not, Elle Woods is right. Health benefits seniors by releasing endorphins into the brain and reducing depression. These ultimately increase your mood. As we age, it can be shared to experience a form of depression due to changing schedules or feeling a loss of purpose after retiring and not working. By exercising, the body releases natural chemicals (endorphins) to lighten your mood and create a sense of happiness.

This is a healthier solution than over-the-counter medicine. Wilson also recommends surrounding yourself with other motivated individuals. “Utilize more of a group atmosphere when it comes to fitness (group classes, fitness buddy, personal training). It improves mood by enhancing opportunities for socialization,” she says.

Prevents Unwanted Falls

Experiencing a fall can be one of the most detrimental accidents as we age. “Fractures, head trauma, and loss of function or mobility are all potential complications that can be caused by a fall,” says Jimmy McKay, a physical therapist at FOX Rehabilitation. With increasing age, engage in more balance-centric and flexibility exercises, such as yoga or Pilates.

In doing so, the body learns how to react to prevent a fall and fall correctly. McKay says he believes there’s a big focus on balance training in children. Unfortunately, these skills and learning practices can be neglected as we age. But they’re just as important.

Helps Flexibility and Range of Motion

If we don’t use it, we’ll most certainly lose it. This 100 percent applies to our flexibility and range of motion. McKay says, “There are four phases of degeneration that progress naturally as we age. Exercise is a major intervention to slow this process down. If a joint cannot move through its normal range, it will limit the amount of activity that can be done.” This includes but is not limited to putting dishes in the cupboard or washing your hair.

Additionally, the body will negatively compensate for losing range of motion, relying on another body part to pick up the slack. The neck is a secondary body part that may experience additional weight or force. If left overworked, this could lead to additional complications and further accelerate degenerative changes.

Supports Better Sleep

Regular exercise can help us fall asleep faster because of the fluctuations in body temperature during and after post-workout. It also helps initiate a deeper sleep, waking up refreshed and with more energy.

This aspect of exercise benefits seniors because, as we age, our body systems tend to slow down. Sleeping well can help keep cognitive and physical functioning (such as concentration, standard movements, and memory) at optimal levels throughout the day, reducing the risk of injury.

Meditation and a regular workout routine can help you sleep better. Check out the sleep meditations on Aaptiv.

https://aaptiv.com/magazine/exercise-benefits-seniors

Disclaimer: 

This blog post contains affiliate links, meaning I receive a commission from any purchase through these links. Receiving a commission will not affect your purchase in any form.

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