Exercise & Anti Aging?
Research has shown that by exercising regularly, older people stay active longer.
It has long been common knowledge that regular exercise along with a balanced diet is good for everyone’s health, but is especially critical for the elderly. By exercising, older people can, with a little luck,remain active for longer. Many debilitating and potentially fatal diseases can be warded off with an active lifestyle, including heart disease, cancer,diabetes, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, and cognitive deterioration.
It's never too late to start an exercise program. Many older people do not get the exercise they need. A doctor can help you create an exercise plan that works for you and which can reduce the risk of various illnesses, cognitive deterioration and bone loss while improving your balance, muscle strength and general well-being.
But many older individuals are not getting enough exercise. A good exercise program should include aerobic exercise such as brisk walking,strength training such as light weight training, and balance and flexibility training, which could include yoga or Pilates. Doctors play an essential role in encouraging their older patients to be on an appropriate exercise regime, and need to consider the individual’s goals,concerns and any barriers to exercising regularly.
The benefits of regular exercise can include improvements in metabolic, endocrine, cardiovascular and psychological health. A Harvard University study has found that people who start exercise later in life have lower rates of morbidity and mortality than those who are active in their youth but then give up exercise as they move into middle age. This means that people are never too old to start exercising, which is great news.
| “Many debilitating and potentially fatal diseases can be warded off with an active lifestyle” |
The benefits of resistance training in older adults have become more clearly understood in recent years. Muscle strength declines by 15%per decade from the age of 50 and 30% per decade after the age of 70. Strength training is essential for daily function in the elderly, as wasted muscles can increase the risks of falls and fractures.
Before recommending an exercise program, a doctor should do a thorough physical examination of the patient, as well as look at their medical records for any risk factors associated with exercise, such as heart disease. But often older people can exercise safely at low intensity levels,and the risks associated with not exercising are often far greater.
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