As a caregiver, do you ever wonder how important senior fitness actually is?<\/p>\n
Do you feel unsure sometimes how to support your aging parent or loved one to stay active? Curious what types of exercises can help your loved one remain healthy?<\/p>\n
With all the information out there, it can seem overwhelming. But at the root of it, senior fitness is actually quite simple.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s explore the three types of exercises older adults need.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s an unfortunate truth:<\/p>\n
Just 38.5% of Americans 65 and older met aerobic activity guidelines in 2016. Even fewer (17.5%) meet muscle strengthening guidelines, according to a 2016 CDC study<\/a>.<\/p>\n
But regular exercise is essential to health and well-being in older adults.<\/p>\n
As we age, physical fitness helps protect us<\/a> from many diseases, including diabetes, stroke, and some types of cancer. Besides that, exercise can help improve mental health, delay dementia onset, and generally improve quality of life.<\/p>\n
So what, exactly, does physical fitness mean?<\/p>\n
For aerobic activity, the CDC recommends<\/a> at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week for older adults.<\/p>\n
Your loved one can stick to either moderate or vigorous activities, or try a mix of the two.<\/p>\n
Besides aerobic activity, the CDC recommends at least two days per week of activities that work all major muscle groups.<\/p>\n
Muscle strengthening should target legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms. These types of activities support older adults in retaining muscle mass as they age.<\/p>\n
The key to gaining benefits? Finding their edge. For optimal health, it\u2019s crucial to repeat muscle-strengthening activities to the point where another repetition would be too hard to do without support.<\/p>\n
Whether at home or a fitness center, there are many types of activities that strengthen muscles.<\/p>\n
Popular examples that require a gym or investing in a little equipment include using free weights, resistance bands, and exercise machines.<\/p>\n
However, using your own body weight can be just as effective. Classic examples include push-ups and sit-ups. Exercises that overlap into hobbies can be wonderful, too, like intensive gardening and more strength-focused yoga.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t leave balance activities out! In addition to strength training and aerobic exercise, devoting time to practicing balance has major benefits for older adults.<\/p>\n
In fact, a CDC study suggests<\/a> that an exercise program that includes both balance activities and functional exercise (a type of strength training) reduces the risk of falls in older adults by 24%.<\/p>\n
So what counts as a balance activity?<\/p>\n
You want to support your aging parent in getting the recommended exercise to stay healthy and well.<\/p>\n
And while there are countless specific exercises out there to choose from when it comes to senior fitness, the most important part is simply to remember the three crucial categories: aerobic exercise, strength training, and balance activities.<\/p>\n
Could you use more tangible help when it comes to helping your loved one stay fit and active? We offer tailored caregiver assessments \u2014 plus actionable support \u2014 completely free of charge.<\/p>\n
Simply call us at 855-461-2552 or send us a message<\/a>, anytime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"