Staying active as you get older is very important for health. It will make daily activities easier and can prevent or delay a lot of health problems. In this way you can remain independent longer and you will not quickly become dependent on others. In this article, we’ll talk about the benefits of fitness for the elderly and explain how to get started.
What are the benefits of fitness for the elderly
Fitness for the elderly brings several benefits. Many of these benefits are health-related, but some of them may not have occurred to you. We have listed the most important benefits for you.
- Studies have shown that daily exercise can help the elderly in the prevention of diseases. This includes heart disease and diabetes, but exercise also has a positive effect on the immune system, making you less susceptible to viruses.
- Exercise is good for mental health. Exercising releases dopamine in the brain, which makes people feel happy.
- Daily exercise helps to improve sleep quality. This can be beneficial for the elderly, because many elderly suffer from insomnia and a disturbed sleep rhythm.
- Fitness helps improve strength, flexibility and coordination. This reduces the chance of falling. This is important because older people take much longer to recover from a fall.
- As you get older, your muscle mass and muscle strength will decrease more and more. This makes daily activities increasingly difficult. Strength training for the elderly helps to maintain muscle mass to the extent that this is possible.
- Fitness for the elderly can also be a fun social outing. Many elderly people experience loneliness and become depressed as a result. Fitness can help build social contacts and prevent loneliness.
- Fitness for the over-65s can really help improve cognitive functions. Studies have shown that exercise drastically reduces the risk of dementia.
Encouraging fitness for the elderly
When you are old yourself, it is good to remember these benefits. Even if you know someone who is a bit older and who could use some extra exercise, you can remind them of these benefits. Fitness for older incentives will give the elderly a better quality of life and will help to relieve the burden of care.
Where do you start?
Many gyms now offer a specific group class for the elderly. These group classes are usually focused on strength training for seniors. If you don’t have much knowledge of fitness, this can be a good start. You can also join a gym where they offer personal guidance or personal training.
Would you rather get started at the gym or at home? Read our article about exercise for the elderly.