How to exercise safely in later life
What are the long-term benefits of exercise?
Staying active helps us to improve our flexibility, weight management and mental health - and its effects can be seen pretty immediately. But doing regular exercise also sets you up to stay healthier for longer in later life.
It's no secret we are spending an increasing amount of time sitting down. As technology advances, our screen time increases. This time may be spent on our phones, looking at our work screens or watching television. It's not surprising the average person sits for 9 to 10 hours a day.
As we age, our bones become weaker as their density decreases, our hearts have to work harder as our blood vessels stiffen, and our metabolisms slow down, increasing the likelihood of weight gain and certain health conditions.
Although there are few ways to avoid our work screens, it is likely you are able to counteract or delay these health problems, simply by staying active. An American Cancer Society study found a link between long periods of leisure time sitting and a higher risk of death caused by heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Making sure we get more activity into our lives, even light activity, could help us live for longer.
Just move
The majority of advice for staying active, especially if you are new to exercise, is to move more. This needn't be running marathons or attending every Zumba class you can find - it's as much about increasing your activity on a day-to-day basis simply by taking walks after dinner, squatting whilst brushing your teeth or just getting some extra steps in whilst you wait for the kettle to boil.
"We should take any opportunity to strengthen our cardiovascular system. I see people parking as close to the gym entrance as possible, to walk on a treadmill for 30 minutes," says James Robinson, personal trainer of eight years. "Increasing your non-exercise tasks, such as taking the stairs instead of the escalator, parking further away from the entrance of the supermarket or taking short breaks to walk around your office, are great ways to incorporate more activity to help strengthen your cardiovascular system and reduce your risk of many health conditions further down the line."
James adds that through exercise, we learn about our bodies and he has, on occasion, found his clients have discovered a number of pre-existing conditions through exercising, including hypermobility and anaemia.
"Exercising is a great way of understanding your body, its capabilities and its limits. By educating ourselves, we are hopefully able to address any issues and live longer, healthier lives," he says. "It is never too late to start and it's possible to improve your fitness by increasing your physical activity at any age."
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Strengthening your joints
In addition to increasing your day-to-day activity, including certain exercises in your workouts can strengthen the muscles that protect and support your joints. This is especially important for those who have joint pain, stiffness and arthritis. Contrary to popular belief, avoiding exercise due to joint pain can actually lead to muscles becoming weaker, therefore causing more pain when moving joints. Arthritis Action advises it is vital to stay active or increase your level of activity to help reduce pain and improve joint movement.
Appropriate strength training (using weight to gradually build muscle) is particularly beneficial, and can range from body weight exercises to incorporating additional weights such as dumbbells and kettlebells.
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Psychological benefits
As beneficial as exercise is to your body in the long term, it can also be helpful to your mental health in a number of ways. Mental Health charity, Mind, reports there have been many studies, which show physical activity can improve mental health. Some of the psychological benefits of exercise include:
- Better mood - there are a number of feel-good chemicals your body releases when you exercise, improving your outlook and making you feel happier. Not only this, but it is likely you will feel more energised after your workout than you did before, setting you up well for a productive day.
- Managing stress and anxiety - exercise doesn't just produce feel-good hormones, it can also help lower the levels of stress-related hormones in your body. Therefore, it goes without saying, less of these hormones should help alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety.
- Better sleep - naturally, being happier and having lower levels of stress and anxiety should aid with your sleep quality. Most people should avoid strenuous workouts later on in the evening; however, yoga and stretching can help you relax and unwind for a better night's rest.
Although there are many pressures we all face in life, simple lifestyle changes can counterbalance the inevitable time you will spend sitting inactive. They may only show small benefits to begin with, but your body and mind will thank you for your time and effort when you are able to stay healthy and active, well into your later years.
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Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions.