WHY SENIORS SHOULD DO SENIOR EXERCISES
In addition to obvious physical benefits, exercise has been shown to have an effect on brain functioning that helps seniors keep their independence, avoid disability, frustrate certain cancers and depression.
PHYSICAL BENEFITS
PREVENTING ALZHEIMER'S
Studies indicate that regular exercise may help seniors improve their cognitive abilities. Seniors who remained fit throughout their lives and those who adopted a senior fitness program showed a lower incidence of dementia than those who were described as sedentary. Even adults who had a family history of Alzheimer's Disease were found less likely to develop the disorder if they
maintained an exercise regime of only 10-30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week. Although the American Psychological Association indicates that there remain varying opinions on the benefits of exercise for seniors, the consensus is that physical exercise has a positive effect on cognitive and brain function in seniors.
DECREASING THE CHANCES OF AGE RELATED NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES
Although the jury is still out on which exercises offer the most benefit in contributing to continued brain function and retained brain volume in seniors, most researchers agree that any senior exercise program is likely to have a positive effect. Recent studies on individuals over the age of 60 who either continued to work or who maintained an active lifestyle as they aged,
including a senior fitness routine, found that, compared to individuals who became sedentary after retirement, these seniors had in increased cerebral blood volume and performed better on cognitive and spatial tasks. Other studies which monitored seniors who introduced exercise into their daily routines over the course of six months found that the participants performed better on
distractibility tasks, displayed a positive increase in brain activity, and reported better short-term memory functioning. Exercising may also help seniors slow the decrease of certain neurochemicals which function to prevent or postpone some age-related physical disorders and diseases.
MAINTAINING MOBILITY AND BALANCE
Several recent studies have indicated that moderate senior exercise helped increase their performance on tests measuring their ability to get out of a chair, how quickly they could walk comfortably, and their ability to maintain balance during certain activities. With far too many seniors losing their independence as they age because they lack mobility, researchers indicate
that those who participate in regular senior exercise are less likely to die earlier and less likely to be forced to enter an assisted care environment. By performing such simple senior exercises as walking and stretching, study participants were able to reduce their chances of developing an age-related disability and maintain their independence longer than participants who remained
sedentary.
IMPROVING PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING
Even individuals over the age of 70 can benefit from regular senior exercises. Most researchers now agree that individuals as old as 90 can maintain the physical functioning necessary to live an independent and healthy life. As little as two and one half hours of exercise every week, coupled with some simple stretching and balance exercises can help seniors retain or regain their ability to move and function independently. Long-term studies have shown that seniors who exercise regularly are able to maintain walking speed and can walk farther than those who did not. Elderly individuals who became sedentary had increased difficulty in performing even simple physical tasks such as walking across a room, dressing themselves, and even bathing.
MAINTAINING INDEPENDENCE
One of the biggest fears that seniors report is, most surprisingly, not fear of disease or illness, but losing their independence. Exercise can increase our ability to move and function, lower our risk of disease and injury, and can help us live longer, healthier lives. With a huge percentage of the population entering their senior years, it is important for us to rely on a prescription of senior exercise to heal our bodies and our spirits as opposed to relying on doctors and medical advances to cure what ails us. To keep from experiencing increasing health care costs and decreasing mobility, it is important for seniors to maintain an appropriate level of fitness. The good news is
that even seniors who have already reached the point where they have begun to experience difficulty functioning independently can regain their ability to perform day-to-day physical tasks by introducing moderate senior exercises into their daily routine.
Article Source: http://www.alltopinfo.com
Paul bailie is author of this article on Senior exercises.
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