Exercise For Seniors
Image : http://www.flickr.com
Everyone knows that exercise is very important for several reasons; it helps to maintain muscle tone and strength, keeps you active, and it keeps you fit. All of these are needed as the body ages. It is very important for seniors to stay fit and healthy to avoid broken or fractured bones, muscle weakness and deterioration, and more. When you were younger you probably didn’t plan specifically for muscle strength and bones but here you are now and it is time to depend on how you prepared for old age. Falling is something that you want to avoid and for those times when you can’t you don’t want your bones to practically shatter at a mere slip.
If you don’t already have an exercise routine or you think that you need to change yours how will you know what is the right amount of exercise for you and how do you know which exercises will be safe for you. It’s good to know that even those who suffer from heart diseases and other conditions can still exercise safely to stay fit and maintain strength.
Plan to exercise for at least thirty minutes a day every day. If that seems like too much at first you can start by only exercising two to three times per week. It’s very important that you remember to allow yourself a warm up and cool down period along with each exercise routine. This gives your body time to adjust to the exercise and to build up and slow down your heart rate each day.
Before starting any exercise program check with your doctor to make sure that it is safe for you to begin. Take along a paper that list the exercise that you plan to do and how often so your doctor can look at it to see if there should be any modification before you begin. It’s also important to stop exercising if you feel sore or if you have any short term illnesses such as the flu, pneumonia, or even the common cold.
Always wear comfortable clothing when you are exercising but don’t allow your clothes to be too baggy on you or they may cause you to fall. You also need to wear comfortable shoes and socks when you are exercising to prevent falls. It’s easy to turn your ankles when your foot is not supported. This can cause an injury, sprain, or even broken bones.
Staying healthy is as important as taking your medication on a regular basis. You also feel better when you are in shape and you exercise daily. It doesn’t matter if you exercise at five in the morning or at noon everyday as long as you find a time that fits great for you. This is your life and it is important to maintain your health. Exercising will also help you handle stress and give you a positive outlook on things. You become stronger all together and it will show when you are around people and you have fewer health illnesses and conditions.