Is life good?  If it isn’t, it should be.  This is the question all seniors should ask themselves in regards to their health.    As Americans age, they begin to get the everyday aches and pains that slow down their daily routines.  Seniors are more prone to injury with the lack of exercise and activity being some of the major causes.  Seniors are also prone to many different medical conditions that exercise will help lower the risk or prevent, including Alzheimer’s and dementia, heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity.  Exercise can also help you maintain your mobility and independence. Regular exercise helps keep bones and muscles strong, promotes good balance and combats frailty.

Senior fitness programs should consist of four types of exercises that include strengthening, balance, stretching, and endurance exercises.  Strengthening exercises will help build older adult muscles and increase their metabolism, which will help keep weight and blood sugar in check.  Balance exercises builds leg muscles and will help prevent falls, which will help seniors stay more independent later in life.  Stretching exercises allow for more freedom of movement and will allow seniors to be more active.  Endurance exercises help increase heart rate and breathing for a healthier lifestyle as you age.  Some examples of endurance exercise include walking, swimming, biking, and daily activities around the house, such as raking leaves or mowing the grass.  Seniors need to start endurance exercises slowly and progress gradually.  An inactive lifestyle can cause seniors to lose ground in these four important areas that allow a more healthy and independent lifestyle.

Staying physically active and exercising on a regular basis can help prevent or delay many diseases and disabilities.   Always remember that seniors need to check with their physician before starting any type of exercise program.  Growing older doesn’t mean you have to lose strength or your ability to live a healthy lifestyle in your older years.  Exercise can help seniors feel better and enjoy life more.