Exercise for Senior Citizens

Many people think that once they reach a certain age, physical fitness no longer applies to them. This could not be further from the truth. Proper exercise and nutrition are vital at any age, and maybe even more important later on in life. Obviously, a senior citizen cannot push their body the same way they did when they were in their 20s and 30s, but that does not mean that exercise should be shunned completely.

Weight training not only produces strong muscles, but it also produces strong bones. Much in the same way a muscle will grow to compensate for the extra work being forced upon it, bones will become denser to compensate for their role in resistance training. This strengthening of bones will help reduce the possibility of injury from falls and other accidents that seem to plague senior citizens. No one is telling a 75 year old woman she needs to be bench pressing like a 20 year old male, but moderate weight training may have a huge positive impact on the lifestyle of a senior citizen.

With aging, loss of muscle mass is often noticed. This is due to natural hormone decline, but also from a sedentary lifestyle that may gradually happen as a result of getting older. By keeping active and exercising frequently, muscles stay in shape and energy levels stay elevated. This can greatly enhance the lifestyle of someone entering their golden years.

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen a senior citizen that looked years younger than they actually were, simply because they remained active and exercised frequently throughout their lives. It is inspiring to see an 80 year old man running marathons, weight training or engaging in any type of physical fitness, and I like to think that I will be the same way. It goes to show that, just because we all get older, that doesn’t mean we all have to slow down.