Exercises for Seniors to Maintain Well-being

Getting older brings its own set of challenges. Our bodies change with time, and some of those changes can mean a diminishing sense of well-being. Consistently exercising throughout your life can help you strengthen your body to handle wear and tear over time. However, exercises for seniors still have benefits.

Benefits of exercises for seniors

Exercise takes many forms and has benefits for a person of any age, as long as it’s done safely, and it is something that you enjoy. For seniors, exercise can help with improving heart health, increasing flexibility, maintaining strength, helping balance and stability, keeping one’s mind sharp, and improving mobility. It allows one to stay active for longer, and it improves one’s sense of well-being by reducing anxiety as well as stress.

Exercise usually comes with the added benefit of socializing with others. Many forms of exercise allow for meeting with others, and social connection is also important for mental and emotional health.

The key thing for anyone to consider is what sort of exercise will benefit them most, as well as what they can do safely while enjoying themselves. Exercise isn’t a form of punishment – it’s a wonderful way to take care of yourself so that you can enjoy life for longer.

Examples of exercise regimens for seniors

There are many different kinds of exercise out there that can help maintain physical and mental health. Seniors must consider that certain exercises will cause strain in particular ways for their bodies, and so the choice of exercise regimen is important. The exercises mustn’t be too strenuous, or else it become harmful. Some exercises that are suitable for seniors include the following:

Brisk Walking

While it can impact one’s joints, walking helps to improve cardiovascular health and mobility.

Stretching

Stretching can be done multiple times during the day, and it improves flexibility while reducing the risk of injury.

Swimming

This form of exercise has a low impact on one’s joints, and it also improves flexibility.

Yoga

It doesn’t require weights and works to enhance flexibility, balance, and strength.

Tai Chi

As with yoga, tai chi doesn’t require weights, and it improves one’s balance, flexibility, and cardiovascular health.

Dancing

This is a fun way to move your body, and it helps to improve your balance, coordination, and cardiovascular health.

Resistance band exercises

Instead of lifting weights and possibly inducing injury, using resistance bands helps to strengthen muscles without heavy lifting.

Bodyweight exercises

For more active seniors, doing exercises such as squats, lunges, and chair dips helps improve strength and mobility.

Cycling

Like swimming, cycling is a low-impact exercise that can improve cardiovascular health and leg strength.

Gardening

Being outdoors has its health benefits, and gardening also works as a gentle exercise that can help with flexibility, strength, and mental well-being.

It is vital to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise program and to go to the doctor if you injure yourself with any form of exercise.

Some exercises seniors should avoid

Having suggested some exercises that could work well for seniors, it may be helpful to also point out some forms of exercise that seniors should avoid because of the increased risk of injury. Each individual is unique, and some seniors might be able to perform these exercises without trouble. However, the vast majority of seniors can get benefits from other forms of exercise, and should avoid the following:

Deadlifts

Deadlifts require lifting heavy weights off the floor. Doing deadlifts can be quite a strain on the body, and they can be damaging for seniors with back and posture issues.

High-impact exercises

As we get older, our joints suffer from all the impact of walking, standing, running, and so on. Doing high-impact exercises such as running and intense aerobics can increase the risk of injury and damage to joints.

Weighted squats

Doing squats with just your body weight can be highly beneficial without introducing the risk of injury. Weighted squats, where you’re carrying weights while squatting, can damage knee joints and lead to falls.

Leg Presses

Leg presses can put excessive strain on leg muscles and lead to knee injuries.

Crunches

Crunches help strengthen your core, but they can strain the neck, back, and spine, and they can worsen health issues such as arthritis or osteoporosis.

Exercises with twisting

Exercises that require extensive twisting can put the spine under unnecessary stress. This can be harmful, especially for those with existing back problems.

Exercises where falling is a risk

Doing exercises such as running stairs or playing football can increase the risk of falling and injury.

Doing exercise well

Exercise has many benefits for mental, emotional, and physical health. In combination with a strong social network, a balanced diet, and good sleep, exercise can improve your overall well-being.

You can also seek support by talking with a mental health professional such as a counselor in Thousand Oaks, California to address concerns such as coping with loss, handling difficult emotions, isolation, or the changes that getting older brings about. Reach out to us today at Thousand Oaks Christian Counseling in California to schedule an appointment with a qualified therapist in Thousand Oaks.