Why is exercise important for older people?

Hands up if you want to live in your own home, with the best overall health and wellbeing, for as long as possible. 

This is what the right exercise can help older people to achieve. There are many benefits to exercise for adults aged 65 or over, here is a list of a few of the top benefits. 

Strength training 

At the age of 60 plus fitness can mean different things to different people. 

It could be that fitness to you is being able to kneel down on the ground to play with your grandchildren, walk around your community independently, play lawn bowls or go for a swim once a week. 

Or maybe you still think of fitness as being able to go to the gym for a workout or go for a run around the block. 

Exercise physiology for seniors looks at what functional abilities you need and the exercises you can do to either maintain or develop those abilities. 

Most people benefit from strength training - and that’s not lifting big dumbbell weights or using heavy machines to work out. 

Strength training for seniors is about muscle strengthening and building the muscle fibres you need to support your bones and joints as they age, so that you can still do the tasks you need to and participate in the activities you enjoy. 

Balance and flexibility 

Balance exercises and moving your body in different ways to maintain flexibility go hand-in-hand with strength training to enable you to do more. 

Balance exercises for seniors are particularly important for falls prevention, as falls are a major contributor to a loss of fitness and functionality. 

A little work on simple exercises that focus on your balance can go a long way to maintaining your lifestyle and independence. 

Daily living 

Have you ever wondered why seated chair exercises for seniors’ fitness are so well used?

Well, sitting on a chair is an activity older people need to be able to do to live at home safely and comfortably.

Exercises that focus on activities you do daily are important for maintaining your ability to live independently and have a good quality of life. 

This can be any kind of exercise from walking to stepping up and down or lifting a small weight so that you can continue to lift the kettle or the bag of shopping. 

Even online health and fitness services which can be done in your own home have benefits for daily tasks you didn’t know you needed strength, balance or stability for. 

Mental health 

Physical activity is proven to be good for mental health. 

The need for everyone to look after their mental health doesn’t stop at a particular age. In fact many people over the age of 60 experience depression due to poor physical health, social isolation and loss. This is another reason why exercise for seniors remains so important. 

Southern Cross Care’s Health & Fitness services are targeted to adults aged 65+ and also include allied health that compliments exercise, such as diet and nutrition for seniors, physio treatment and hydrotherapy. 

For more information about group fitness classes and allied health services visit our Health & Fitness page or call 1800 852 772.