The Importance of Exercise

It’s already February 3rd, but it’s not too late for New Year’s resolutions! Actually, as the lines for treadmills start to wane and people lose their resolve, now is a great time to start that exercise regimen you have been thinking about for a while. Seniors should pay special attention to this, for more and more, it is becoming clear that things such as senior independence, health, and mobility can be seen as a direct result of exercise.

Recently, in the Boston Globe, in an article titled “For Elders, Fitness Can’t be Beat,” Kay Lazar wrote “Dr. Jonathan Bean, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and a researcher at Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, is tracking about 350 older adults, including [Dolores] Selenkow, and has found that building core -- also known as abdomen -- strength, and leg speed are vital to keeping elders active and independent.” This research matches that of many other experts on senior health. Many injuries in seniors can be tracked to falls, and these falls can be directly traced to a lack of balance or a lack of muscle mass. Additionally, a lack of mobility reduces independence for self-evident reasons. When somebody cannot walk for longer than five minutes, it becomes infinitely more difficult to socialize and to take care of yourself. Therefore, if you are a senior – or know a senior – who wants to maintain independence, it is essential that you follow Dr. Bean’s advice and build core strength and leg speed.

Lazar continues, in her article, “Another study, the largest and longest-running trial of its kind, found that regular physical activity in older adults measurably reduced mobility problems.” Optimally, you want to exercise for 30 minutes, five times a week. If this is too much at first, that is fine. Experts urge to go at your own pace and try to build up to that number. It is important to rest and not push yourself. Walking is one way to exercise. If you are looking for alternate ways, or you just got bombarded by snow in the Northeast, here are some videos a simple search on youtube.com brings up: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=elderly+exercises. Youtube.com is a great resource, as you can tailor exercise videos for things such as balance, core, or cardio. Another resource that may be helpful is your local senior center and ask them to see if they offer fitness classes, walking clubs, or other services. If you need help locating a local center, you can look in the phone book, or you can locate it at the National Institute of Senior Centers web site: http://www.ncoa.org/national-institute-of-senior-centers/. You may also call them at 571-527-3900. Again, there are many resources out there for you. The most important thing to do is to start exercising. The health benefits of exercise are endless, and they will help anyone maintain mobility, strength, and – most importantly – independence. If you have any questions for us, do not hesitate to email or call.