The Role Physical Activity Plays In Senior Wellness Care

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Maintaining your wellness as you age can come with hurdles. But it is just as important, if not more so than it is when you are younger. Proper diet, sleep, and socialization are all essential components, but nothing is more important than physical activity. Here are a few ways physical activity can enhance your later years. 

Improves Your Health

The Center For Disease Control (CDC) recommends you engage in at least 150 minutes per week of moderate activities. They also advise you to engage in muscle strengthening and balance activities. Engaging will benefit you even if you cannot start at the recommended amount of time.

You do not need fancy equipment or even a gym to get in the recommended amount of physical activity. Some things you can do include:

  • Swimming
  • Water Aerobics
  • Walking
  • Mowing
  • Raking
  • Bike Riding
  • Yoga

Something as simple as putting on some upbeat music and dancing like no one is watching can increase your heart rate and provide moderate exercise benefits. 

Reduces Your Health Risks

Physical activities can reduce your risk of many prevalent diseases in older adults. These diseases include:

  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Pre-Diabetes
  • Heart Disease
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Certain Cancers
  • Obesity

Studies have shown people who engage in physical activities live longer than those who do not. 

Improves Your Mood

If you suffer from depression, anxiety, or even stress, the answer for your condition may be as close as physical activity. Engaging in physical exercise can aid with all of these conditions. Exercise is a natural antidepressant. 

Even small amounts of exercise produce benefits in your brain. You will experience a release of endorphins, which energize you and make you feel good. 

Exercise can also improve your mood by giving you something else to focus on. It can help you break out of your negative mental cycle. Exercise can provide a natural winning cure when you add the socialization you can sometimes achieve.

Helps Manage Your Weight

Unfortunately, as you age, weight tends to creep on. Many times this is due to you slowing down and no longer engaging in the amount of physical activity you did in the past. Other times the extra weight may come from medications used to manage various health conditions.

Physical activity can help you get the extra weight and keep it off regardless of where the weight comes from. Not only will your waistline look better, but managing your weight will also make your joints feel better.

For more information about senior wellness, contact a local company.   


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