Senior Living: How Do You Maintain Fitness In Old Age?

Keeping active, fit and socially engaged is a recipe for a healthy old age. To maintain fitness, it’s important to take regular exercise that gets your heart and lungs working together. It also helps strengthen your bones, prevent chronic diseases and extend your life. However, it’s important to start slowly, not to overdo it and to know your limits.

If you have not been into exercise, and suffer from specific problems such as joint pain, arthritis and even some neurological disorders, speak to your doctor or physical therapist for the best advice appropriate to your personal circumstances. They may recommend physical or other rehab therapies for your ailments.

Maintaining your fitness requires a positive outlook on life which can be further reinforced by exercise.

Maintain Fitness To Extend Your Life

People with neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s can also benefit from regular, low-intensity exercise. Your physical health and the central nervous system are connected, and both can affect mental health, too. Maintaining fitness helps build muscle and bone strength but also helps keep you mentally alert. In addition, exercise releases endorphins in the brain and gives you a greater sense of well-being.

Elderly woman doing exercise on treadmill alone maintaining her independence and fitness to treat Sciatic Back Pain.

Even regularly taking a short walk in a park or other green space can be hugely beneficial. Fresh air, a change of surroundings and exercise keep your heart and lungs functioning effectively. This, in turn, helps you maintain fitness and gives you a better chance of fighting off diseases.

Exercising needn’t be a chore and if you can have fun and a laugh at the same, so much the better. Try to exercise or take part in activities with others. Many elderly people like games such as bowls which can be fun and keep you moving at the same time.

Consider an all-day active approach

Try to have a daily plan of enjoyable activities, exercise, and social engagements to maintain fitness. Having a routine that includes activities involving physical effort and movement, can build stamina and well-being. The thing to avoid is a sedentary lifestyle.

However, be sure to do any exercises in a safe way that does not aggravate existing health conditions. Seek advice from medical professionals who will, no doubt, advise you to maintain and gradually build up your fitness.

Chair yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi are great ways to keep supple, exercise and maintain fitness. But other activities such as dancing or swimming can be equally enjoyable and beneficial. It’s important to have a plan and friends or family who can motivate you. That way, you can maintain fitness and are much more likely to stay engaged, active and independent for longer. Also avoid a poor diet and social isolation. These things feed off one another and can lead to obesity, low self-esteem, and even depression.

If you are an elderly, consider an elderly day care center that offers a gym, physical therapy and other rehab therapies for seniors. Fairview Adult Day Care Center in Brooklyn NY offer restorative services and medical care all under one roof.

This article is for educational and informational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. For any questions about your own health condition, speak to a qualified physician or healthcare provider.