The Benefits of Physical Activity for Senior Family Members

Physical exercise doesn’t always mean regularly hitting the gym, lifting heavy weights, and jogging in the park. When we say physical exercise for senior people, we mean maintaining an active lifestyle, healthy mobility, and an everyday routine activity that keeps them fit and happy!

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even if senior loved ones practice moderate physical activity every day within their capacity, they can get significant health benefits.

They don’t have to push themselves to the point where there’s a risk of physical injury. When senior people practice physical activity, they must be surrounded by family or friends who can keep an eye on their wellbeing and give them necessary advice.

Health benefits

The CDC also noted that regular physical activity helps elderly people remain physically independent and reduces any chances of them tripping over and the injuries that come with it. As per the American College of Sports Medicine, a moderate increase in exercise among senior people increases their cardiorespiratory endurance and muscular strength.

Falling down and tripping over are one of the major problems which elderly people all over the world face. As per research by the National Safety Council, they’re the leading causes of injuries and fatalities among the elderly population in the US.

When our senior loved ones practice physical activity under the supervision of expert trainers, they’re taught to maintain proper balance coordination. This is an effective fall protection technique, as it helps them focus on their movement better. As a result, the body also becomes more flexible and their posture greatly improves.

Quality of life

When a senior loved one has restricted mobility and can’t get through their everyday chores without external help, they feel overly dependent. This affects their self-esteem. On the other hand, being physically active and moving around on their own makes them feel empowered and independent.

Exercise is also a great stress reliever. It stimulates the production of endorphins in the human body, which helps with the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Being physically active makes elderly people feel more confident about their health and, consequently, happier about their lives.

Studies have also suggested that other than physical benefits, exercise also enhances cognitive abilities of senior loved ones due to improved blood flow. One of these benefits is a delay in the onset of dementia. An elderly person who has a better grip on their memory and cognitive behavior tend to live a better life than those who are more susceptible to forgetting things.

If you’re based in Woodland Hills CA and need a reliable senior care community to help your senior loved one get their daily dose of healthy exercise, look no further than AvantGarde Senior Living. We believe in helping our elderly enjoy the same quality of life that they did in their youth. For further details, give us a call at (818) 881-0055.