Senior Fitness

This page provides information on Seniors Fitness and things that seniors can do to be more healthy and Fit. Senior's fitness is becoming a huge emphasis by many of todays golden year adults.

The senior population is growing in leaps and bounds, and it is important to stay healthy. As the senior population continues to grow, so will the importance of Senior fitness. Baby boomer fitness and exercise for people of all ages can be the key to preventing chronic conditions troubling millions of Americans. Senior fitness and exercise may not be the cure for everything, but every day we are learning more about its benefits.

According to a report published by the Surgeon General's office, regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing some of the leading illness in the U.S. for people of all ages. People who are usually inactive can improve their health and well-being by becoming even moderately active on a regular basis.

Senior fitness and exercise can help reduce the risk or postpone the development of arthritis, osteoporosis and heart disease. Senior fitness and exercise also helps to increase flexibility and bone mass, thereby preventing injuries and keeping seniors independent. Flexibility that is lost through the aging process results from inactivity or lack of movement. A stretching routine will help muscles function properly, decrease the possibility of injuries, help maintain strength and improve posture.

A balanced exercise program should include muscle-strengthening exercise and cardiovascular conditioning. Studies have proven muscle-strengthening exercises can increase muscle mass and bone density, which will decrease the risk of fracturing bones if a fall occurs. Muscle-strengthening will also increase synovial fluid which increases flexibility, therefore reducing the risk of falling, allowing seniors to avoid injuries that can threaten their ability to live independently.

Cardiovascular exercise, walking, running, swimming, treadmill, bicycling, or any activity which increases the heart-rate for 20 minutes or longer helps to increase endurance and energy levels.

The important part of any senior fitness or senior exercise program is to start slowly and gradually build your exercise program. It may be as simple as increasing the amount of walking you do every morning from two blocks to three blocks after one week. The key is to choose and stick with an activity you enjoy.