Fitness for the Elderly: Why Exercise is Important As We Age

Health experts are constantly conducting research and learning more and more about the benefits of exercise for the elderly. Sedentary adults are more likely to suffer from heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, and joint and muscle disorders.

To help ward off these conditions and to deal with the everyday wear and tear that aging has on our bodies, experts suggest that individuals over the age of 50 should consult their physician and a personal trainer to come up with a fitness plan that works for them.

Another condition that exercise for the elderly has proven to help is the arthritis-striken population. The appropriate exercises can reduce inflammation and relieve stiffness in those particular joints. It also increases flexibility, muscle strength, power and stamina. Elderly adults who exercise also gains the benefits that their younger counterparts also gain including: weight control, the ability to manage daily stress and improved self-confidence. Experts have also found that exercising as you age can also reduce the risk of premature death, can curb depression and minimizes the development of brittle bones.