Exercise doesn’t mean you’ve got to suddenly take up running or pump it out at the gym. It does mean, however, that incorporating gentle movement every day can make a big difference to your overall health.
Many older people often start to avoid exercise for different reasons – whether it’s because of health problems, weight or pain issues or concerns about falling.
Getting moving has a lot of benefits for older people living at home, including:
If you haven’t been exercising for some time, it’s important to start out simple. Try going for a small walk once or twice a week to get you started, or even look at doing some of these indoor exercises designed for seniors, such as chair workouts.
It is also a good idea to turn to a professional who can prescribe exercises to suit your needs and level of fitness. But which professionals can help? While physiotherapists often develop exercise programs to rehabilitate an injury, an exercise physiologist is a specialist who can develop an exercise plan to help you with your current and ongoing goals.
An Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) holds a four-year equivalent university degree and specialises in the exercise and movement for the prevention and management of chronic diseases and injuries. AEPs provide support for people with a range of medical conditions, including:
Exercise physiologists can work with you to develop a balanced exercise plan that can work with any health restrictions you have to help build strength, balance, flexibility and cardio stamina.
The differences are:
Accredited Exercise Physiologists are different as they possess extensive knowledge, skills and experience in clinical exercise delivery.
If you enjoyed reading about the importance of exercise as we age, and would like to read more about seniors health topics, check out our blog articles on 7 healthy habits for seniors and tips to reduce falls.