When I was a teenager, anyone over 30 was positively ancient. I couldn’t imagine getting older and never once worried about my health or quality of life. Now that I’m older, I know how important it is to take care of myself, for now and the future. Never is that more apparent than when I work with older clients—I have some in their 60’s who are in better shape than other clients in their 40’s and 50’s. Besides good genetics, the one thing that makes a difference in quality of life is exercise.
You Can’t Stop the Clock
Despite all the anti-aging products pushed on us (Botox anyone?), it’s inevitable that we will get older. Some of the things that could happen include loss of:
Strength: Sarcopenia is the fancy term scientists have given to describe loss of muscle, strength and quality of tissue often seen in older adults.
Some experts have suggested that muscle mass declines about 4% each decade from age 25 to 50.
Endurance: As we age, we could lose aerobic fitness and experts believe this often contributes to reduced mobility in daily life.
Flexibility: Joints change with age and this can lead to stiffness, decreased range of motion and more injuries
Balance: Each year, hospitals see over 300,000 patients for broken hips due to falling. Balance exercises can help you avoid injuries from falls and keep you independent and mobile. The good news is that the loss of strength, endurance, flexibility and balance aren’t inevitable. The National Institute on Aging believes that "when older people lose their ability to do things on their own, it doesn’t happen just because they have aged. More likely it is because they have become inactive." (Exercise: A Guide from the National Institute on Aging)
It's Never to Late to Start Exercising
No matter how old you are, exercise can improve your quality of life and you don’t have to spend a lot of time doing it to see and feel improvements. Like everyone else, seniors need to engage in cardio, strength training and flexibility exercises to stay healthy and maintain as much strength and functionality as possible.
Strength Training for Seniors
Strength training has incredible benefits for everyone, but especially for seniors. Experts believe that "resistance exercise may forestall declines in strength and muscle mass for decades." (Decreased Mobility in the Elderly: The Exercise Antidote)
Before you get started, it’s essential to get checked out by your doctor. If you have any conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, high blood pressure or heart disease, you’ll need to learn the types of exercises you can and can’t do. Use the following guidelines to set up your program:
Lift weights for all muscle groups (chest, back, shoulders, arms, abs and legs) at least 2 non-consecutive days each week
Start with no weights or light weights—you can use dumbbells, machines and/or resistance bands
Do each exercise for at least 1 set of 10-15 repetitions. Use enough resistance that you can only do the exercise 15 times. If you can do more, you should increase your weights.
Progress by adding more sets (with rest in between) and/or increasing the weights each week
Focus on having good form for each exercise
Be sure to warm up with light exercise before lifting weights
If you’ve never lifted weights before, you may want to work with a personal trainer to learn the proper way to lift. Make sure your trainer has experience in working with seniors! If personal training isn’t an option, you might want to use videos to see proper technique and to get an idea of what a strength training routine looks like. These resources can help you get started
Exercise for Seniors
