Importance of Exercise for Over 50’s
May, 2019
We Specialise in Personal Training for Seniors
Are you part of the 90% of Australians over the age of 50, that doesn’t exercise enough to gain any cardiovascular benefit? [1] If so, it might be time to make a change as a large portion of physical decline is due to lack of physical activity. Plus, the issue gets worse the older we get.
Thankfully, it’s never too late to start as our bodies respond to exercise no matter what age we are and this leads to a range of benefits. Over 50’s fitness training can improve your energy levels, keep you at a healthy weight, and provide benefits to your brain and emotions. In general, if you're fit at 50, you're much more likely to remain healthy in your 70’s and 80’s.
Exercising is and has always been a challenge for many people due to barriers such as lack of interest or motivation, busy schedules and costs. These coupled with the fact that you may not have exercised much during your younger years, can make it even more difficult to get started and maintain a routine.
Benefits of Exercise & Personal Training for Seniors
Being active helps add years to your life with a whole range of benefits.
1. Maintain or Lose Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight becomes more difficult as you age, as metabolism naturally slows. Exercising helps improve your metabolism whilst building muscle mass and shedding unwanted fat.
2. Helps Combat Illness & Chronic Disease
Physically fit people generally have improved immune and digestive functioning, better blood pressure and bone density, and a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and osteoporosis. [2]
3. Inflammation Reduction
Low-grade inflammation contributes to many chronic conditions, especially for the elderly, leading to disability. Exercise is an important way to combat this.
4. Assists with Mobility, Flexibility & Balance
Regular exercise helps improve strength, flexibility and posture, which are key drivers for improvements to balance and coordination. A tailored personal strength training program can also help alleviate conditions such as arthritis.
5. Improves Mental Health
As we age, inevitable life changes occur. This can include children moving out of home, loved ones passing away, and starting retirement. Retirement often includes a lot of free time and can unfortunately lead to depression for some people. Working out and exercising release’s your bodies endorphins, triggering positive feelings which helps you; stay relaxed, gives an outlet for any tension and helps you feel more self-confident. It also helps improve sleep, allowing you to sleep faster and deeper, which is critical for your overall health.
Remember, it’s Never Too Late to Start
Whether you’re looking to combine exercise with a hobby, lose weight, or simply to feel healthier and more energetic, there are endless ways to stay active when you’re over 50. This could be by playing regular sport, taking up bike riding, playing golf, walking, swimming, joining the gym, joining a local yoga class or getting a tailored program with an experienced personal trainer for seniors.
Final Considerations
Whatever you choose to do, just ensure that you keep a regular routine which will depend on your current health and fitness level, goals, and any existing health conditions. In addition, your exercise routine should be well rounded incorporating aerobic activity, stretching and strength training [3].
Keep it varied, start slow and ensure you challenge yourself. In addition, it’s always wise to consult with your GP for their advice, especially if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.
At Urban Fitness Solutions, we’re specialised personal trainers for seniors in Sydney. We focus on helping people aged 45 and over, and are ready to work with you to develop a tailored exercise and nutrition program to help you reach your health and fitness goals.
For more advice or to find out more, contact us today.