Health Benefits Of Staying Active As You Age

Benefits of staying active for ageing adults

Below outlined are benefits of exercise for seniors:

1. Prevents disease

Regular physical activity can help prevent common diseases such as heart-related diseases and diabetes. This is because exercise improves overall immune function, which is important for seniors as their immune systems are often compromised.

2. Improved mental health

Exercise produces endorphins, referred as ‘feel good’ hormones, which act as a stress reliever and leaves you feeling happy & content. Additionally, exercise is also known to improve sleep, which once again is important among older adults as they often suffer from insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns.

3. Reduces Risks of Falls

Older adults are at a higher risk of fall. Exercising regularly improves strength & flexibility which helps to improve balance and coordination, thereby reducing the risk of falls.

4. Social engagement

By joining a group fitness class or a group activity class, exercise can be made into a fun social event and having strong social relations is important for ageing adults to feel a sense of purpose. It also helps to avoid feelings of loneliness & depression.

5. Improved and enhanced cognitive functions

Several studies suggest a lower risk of dementia for physically active individuals, regardless of when they begin. This is because regular physical activity benefits cognitive functions.

How seniors can enjoy staying active?

Here are some tips for staying active that the elderly can consider:

1. Find something enjoyable

The most important thing about staying active is that you should be able to enjoy it and not see it as a burden. So, try to find something that intrigues you and fits your style. For example, you can look into a fitness class designed for adults, join a low-impact walking group with friends or consider solo activities such as swimming or gardening.

2. Start slow

In the initial stages, make sure to take things slow. Going overboard may cause more adverse effects than benefits. Let your body get habituated to the activity first, and then you can tone it per your taste.

3. Build a habit

The benefits of regular physical activity will keep you engaged in the whole process. However, try to naturally and slowly build it as a habit instead of forcing it. This way, you will have something interesting to look forward to daily.

4. Share your progress

One of the best tips for staying active for the elderly is to share their progress with like-minded people. You may choose to share your gains and improvements with a friend, family member or participants of your fitness group. This will keep you motivated and enable you to enjoy the process.