The Best Ways To Stay Active As You Get Older

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e all age, but you don't have to slow down. In whatever decade you are in, whether in your 40s, 50s or other decades, exercising and remaining active is an excellent way of promoting your energy levels, mobility, and health. The hard part is figuring out ways to remain active that make sense for your age group, while potentially not injuring yourself or pushing yourself too much. You may now be coping with things such as losing muscle mass, not having the normal range of motion expected from your joints, or just less overall endurance than you had when you were younger.

So, how can you commit to staying active while continuing to challenge yourself and your health?

In this blog, we’ll discuss why you should stay active even as you age and the ways to stay active as you get older…

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BENEFITS OF STAYING ACTIVE

Staying physically active is necessary to help people keep their independence. The movement has direct benefits on health issues and overall improvement in quality of daily life. It is vital for maintaining muscle tissue and flexible joints, as well as keeping the mind active while aging. Whether you are walking, or functional strength training, physical activity will help with energy, and confidence, in your daily life. 

1.  Preserves Muscle Strength & Mobility
Sarcopenia is the primary concern with aging, as it represents the loss of muscle tone. Movement every day is critical to supporting muscle strength and movement, as muscle loss leads to strain when completing daily movements. Resistance or strength training maintains muscle tone, and supports the mobility to complete daily function, including walking or lifting. It contributes to core stability, and posture, in addition to a lower risk of injury.

2. Boosts Heart Health & Circulation
Living a sedentary lifestyle can lead to heart and circulation troubles. Not getting enough exercise can result in issues with circulation and blood pressure. The good news is that these problems can be prevented – mostly. ‘Low-impact’ forms of cardiovascular exercise like walking, cycling, or swimming will keep your heart in good condition and improve blood flow. 

3.  Sharpens Cognitive Function & Mental Health
It’s not only the body that benefits from physical activity; the brain does too! Research indicates that better memory, concentration, and emotional equilibrium are supported by regular movement. 

4.  Maintains Bone Health & Joint Flexibility
Let’s be real—getting older isn’t exactly a walk in the park for your bones and joints. Stuff just starts creaking. Bone density drops, joints get cranky, and suddenly you’re making weird noises every time you stand up. But you don’t have to just accept it. If you move around—think lifting some weights or just stretching like a cat—you can slow all that down. Build your bones up, keep your joints loose, and stand up straighter by exercising each day. 

5.  Promotes Independence & Longevity
Nobody wants to be the person who needs help carrying a grocery bag or climbing a flight of stairs, right? Staying active is the ticket to keeping your independence. Do you want to play with your grandkids or dance at your friend’s wedding at 70? Gotta keep moving. Otherwise, you’re just watching from the sidelines, and who wants that?

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THE BEST WAYS TO STAY ACTIVE 

LOW-IMPACT CARDIO

Cardiovascular workouts keep your heart muscles strong and healthy, improve circulation, and improve your stamina. Low-impact cardiovascular exercises are the easiest for joints and well tolerated by seniors.

• Walk: Walking is still one of the best forms of exercise for seniors. It can be done in all intensity levels and is an excellent, soft full-body workout without putting excessive stress on your body. Walking can be done as a brisk walk outdoors, on a treadmill, or even just walking in place indoors. Walking keeps your heart strong and your muscles engaged all while keeping your blood circulating well.

• Cycling: If seniors prefer a weight-bearing exercise, then riding a bike is a great alternative. Cycling is a great cardio exercise with low joint concerns. Riding a bike can be done in a variety of styles (stationary, or outdoor). Regardless of the style of exercise, cycling is a great way to improve leg strength and sustain good cardio for the heart, with minimal stress on hips and knees.

• Swimming: Water-based exercises (swimming, water aerobics, and walking), will provide a way to get some resistance-based cardio without joint stress.

• Aerobic Classes: Gentle dance routines, Zumba for seniors, and lower-impact aerobic fitness are enjoyable ways to remain active and involve movement and coordination.

• Chair Exercises: For seniors with limited mobility, chair exercises provide the opportunity for mobility without standing and straining. Movements can include marching in place seated, leg raises, and arm circles.  

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STRENGTH TRAINING

Muscle mass tends to decline with age, but exercise using resistance can slow the loss of muscle mass, and improve mobility and balance.

·      Squats - Helps to strengthen your legs, glutes and core while helping improve your balance with everyday movements.

·      Wall Push-Ups - Improved upper body and core strength with less strain on your wrist.

·      Seated Leg Lifts - Engaging your thigh muscles while improving mobility.

·      Exercising Seated Row with Resistance Bands - Strengthens back, shoulders and arms.

·      Standing Bicep Curls - Good for building arm strength and grasp functions.

·      Side Leg Raises with Band - Helps strengthen hips and thighs for better balance.

·      Light Weight Training Using light dumbbells (1-5 kg) or an item around your house (water bottles) is a good way for seniors to build muscle in an efficient way while at the same time preventing the over-exertion of a wider variety of muscles.

·      Overhead Shoulder Press - Strengthens shoulders and arms so you can function better with common daily activities.

·      Lateral Arm Raises - Good for shoulder stability and posture.

Also Read: Low-Impact Cardio & Strength Training For Seniors

FLEXIBILITY EXERCISE

As we get older, joint stiffness, muscle tightness and a reduction in mobility can feel more difficult. Yoga, tai chi, and stretching help loosen muscle tightness and stiffness, improve range of motion and mobility, and help with relaxation from tight muscles and injury/stain prevention. 

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Social activities help older adults remain socially engaged, they support maintaining cognitive function, physical mobility and even happiness. Group fitness classes by way of yoga classes, pilates classes, and water aerobic classes can benefit physical activity and social engagement. 

STAY ACTIVE WITH DAILY HABITS

Staying active does not always mean some strenuous workout or formal routine. Sometimes daily habits can have the largest impact on how we can keep our mobility, strength, and wellness as we age. Walking is then of course one of the most natural ways to stay active and maintain mobility. You have daily habits, cleaning, gardening, organizing, and ironing, all of these have a built-in movement that requires your body to be physically engaged. Choose stairs when you can safely, this makes up for some of that movement.

Also Read: Senior-Friendly Exercises To Do On a Chair

SAFETY TIPS FOR EXERCISING AS YOU AGE

·      It would be fairly obvious that age can present challenges such as joint pain or injury or simply becoming tired of moving. These are challenges but there are ways to manage the everyday obstacles.

·      Warming up is a critical component of preparing your body to move. Warming up will not only aid your potential risk of injury, but it help your body prepare for movement.

·      Think about progressing gradually not making big jumps into an intensity.

·      Choose low-impact activities to help sustain your activity.

·      Always wear appropriate running shoes to cushion the joints and to limit undue stress on joints. 

·      Make sure you are incorporating flexibility and stretching drills as important features within your mobility routine.  

·    Make sure you drink sufficient amounts of water before, during, and after exercise to avoid fatigue.

·      Watch for signs of overexertion such as dizziness or shortness of breath.

·      Always change, adapt or modify a given workout depending on how you feel comfort-wise.

·      Recovery is as important as the training. Seniors need to balance with rest from all training to limit injury.

·      Get a medical consultation before starting a program of higher-intensity workouts. Discuss any health issues that may limit your exercise choices.

Aging is not about slowing down - It is about moving smart...

Your body is meant to move. Use it. Nourish it. Strengthen it. Whether it be walking, lifting, stretching, or dancing, staying active keeps you strong, confident and independent...

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