Movement Is Medicine - Why Exercise Benefits Seniors

Just because you have more candles on your birthday cake doesn’t mean you should move less. Here at Vitality Semaphore, we believe that exercise and movement are medicine – this is especially true as we age!

Our body adapts to whatever we do, so if you are moving and exercising, your body will get stronger and will allow you to not just do your household chores easily but also allow you to garden for longer, walk easier, safely lift that heavy slow-cooker from the bottom of the kitchen drawer, keep up with the grandkids and give you more energy to do the things you love.

How Much Exercise Do I Need to Do?

The current exercise guidelines for individuals over 65 years recommend that at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise should be performed preferably on all days, regardless of age, weight, health problems or abilities.

If all of this sounds quite overwhelming and you don’t know where to start – don’t worry; many health professionals have undergone study to help you exercise safely and efficiently! There’s something for everyone, whether you enjoy moving in your own space at your own time or like exercising in a group setting.

Why Consider Exercise Physiology?

Exercise physiologists are allied health professionals who have undergone, at the very least, a four-year university degree. They deeply understand the physiology of the human body when at rest and during exercise and the changes your body undergoes when ageing, experiencing muscular injuries and cardiac and metabolic conditions such as diabetes.

Because of this, they can holistically create an exercise and/or movement program specifically for you and your body to help you achieve your goals safely.

The Many Benefits of Exercise for Seniors

If we were to explain all the benefits of how exercise can help you age more easily, this blog would be hundreds of pages long, so we’ve included some of the main benefits:

• As you age, it is normal for bone and muscle density to decrease. This can make you more susceptible to injuries. Exercise is a holistic way to maintain and even increase muscle and bone strength and improve joint health. It can also help improve your sleep.
• By improving your aerobic fitness (cardiovascular and lung fitness), you will be able to breathe and pump the blood around your body more efficiently, decrease anxiety and stress and improve mood.
• Mobility and flexibility can be improved through exercise, relieving stiffness and pain and making things like tying your shoe laces easier to achieve.
• Exercise can improve balance and coordination and your awareness of where your body is and how you hold it in space, decreasing the risk of falls or injuries.
• Specific types of exercises can also cause ‘neuroplasticity’, which is the creation of new brain pathways. This helps to maintain and improve memory and brain function, which is especially important as we age.
• Exercise could assist in the management of chronic health conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, COPD and many more.

If you want to begin exercising for the first time or are looking to begin again after a long time period, we encourage you to consult your GP before starting any new form of exercise and work with an allied health professional such as an exercise physiologist.

You will be guided through safely, begin at an easy and manageable level, and gradually build up the recommended amount, type and frequency of physical activity and exercise.