The Importance of Physical Activity for Senoirs

All throughout our lives, we are told that physical activity is good for us. As we get older, the complications from ignoring this advice begin to catch up with our health. Maybe you are starting to notice some health concerns and are thinking “I should have done more physical activity when I was younger.” Well, the truth is it is not too late. Physical activity is very important to incorporate into your daily life, especially for older adults. Here are just some of the benefits seniors can receive from physical activity:

It helps prevent health problems that come with aging. Physical activity will reduce health risks such as heart disease, cancer, and strokes. Exercise slows down your body’s aging by helping your body feel and look younger - it’s a key factor in longevity.

It provides health benefits. Physical activity gives you a better range of motion, balance, flexibility, and strength. Having physical activity present in your life allows you to grow stronger and do daily activities on your own. It allows you to keep your independence in your daily activities rather than asking others for help.

It is a great way to manage stress. Physical activity has been proven multiple times to be a great way to reduce stress. It also helps with managing moods. Depression and anxiety have been said to decrease when physical activity is incorporated in an individual’s daily life.

It helps maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints. Having healthy bones, muscles, and joints are very important as an individual gets older. Physical activity helps keep all three of these aspects in our body healthy and strong to prevent further complications down the line.

It helps individuals maintain or lose weight. This is one of the obvious benefits physical activity provide,s but it is just as important. Having a healthy weight for your specific body type helps keep everything else in the body healthy and reduces health risks.

It improves sleep. As we get older, we tend to sleep less at night, and it can be difficult to get a good night of sleep. Physical activity provides individuals with better sleep habits such as falling asleep quickly and sleeping deeply.

It is good for the brain. Yes, it is true - physical activity helps your brain. It gives you better multi-tasking skills and creativity in your day-to-day life. It also helps prevent memory loss, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Now that you know all the benefits physical activity can provide for you as you get older, it is time to get motivated. First, figure out what type of physical activity you want to incorporate into your daily life and start off slow. Most importantly, find what fits best for you and enjoy the process.