9 Best Exercises for Seniors
Lacey 9 Best Exercises for Seniors – How Not Exercising Impacts an Aging Body
It’s never too late to start exercising and improving your overall health! This includes seniors. As you age, regular physical activity is an important key to maintaining strength, balance, and mobility. At MASJ, our patients vary from young and fit to aging gracefully, but no matter the age or body, they experience pain. Our professionals are dedicated to helping seniors stay active and independent through exercise programs specifically designed for seniors with chronic pain. We offer a variety of exercises tailored to different levels of fitness with guidance and support. While we encourage all aging adults to schedule a consultation with us, we also can share our top 9 exercises for seniors.
1. Chair Exercises – Chair exercises are a great way for seniors to keep their muscles and joints active without the risk of overexertion or injury. Simple activities such as knee lifts, arm raises, and leg stretches can be done on a chair and provide a good range of motion for the elderly individual.
2. Walking – Regular walks are beneficial for seniors in many ways, providing both physical and mental health benefits. It’s a great way to get some cardiovascular activity and stay active while enjoying the scenery of the great outdoors.
3. Pilates – Pilates can help improve balance, increase flexibility, and reduce pain by strengthening core muscles around the spine. It is gentle enough for seniors to do without worrying about injury, yet still provides a good workout.
4. Swimming – Low-impact exercises such as swimming can be especially beneficial for seniors with joint pain or arthritis, providing relief while still offering an effective workout. Swimming also helps improve muscle strength and flexibility, making it a great choice for seniors.
5. Tai Chi – This is a form of exercise that has been around for centuries and can be beneficial to seniors in many ways. It involves gentle, slow movements which help promote balance, increase flexibility, and improve cardiovascular health. It is also known to reduce stress and improve mental clarity in its practitioners.
6. Pilates – This is an exercise program that focuses on core strength and stability. Pilates can help seniors improve their balance, posture, coordination, flexibility and mobility. It is an excellent way for seniors to strengthen muscles without putting too much strain on the body.
7. Yoga – This low-impact exercise is great for improving physical fitness levels in seniors. It can help increase muscle tone, flexibility, balance, and coordination. Yoga also helps improve respiration and circulation while calming the mind and body.
8. Weight Training – Strength training helps build muscle, burn fat, and increase bone density – all of which are important for seniors to stay healthy and active. It is also helpful in improving balance and coordination, making it a great choice for those looking to prevent falls.
9. Aquatic exercises – Water exercises are great for seniors because they provide resistance while still being gentle on the joints. It can help improve strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility. Plus, it’s a lot of fun!
Schedule a consultation with a pain management specialist at Mat San Jose to discuss your treatment options. The clinic offers a variety of pain management services, from guided exercises to physical therapy, and even alternative therapies. MASJ is dedicated to helping you lead a pain-free life. Call us today.