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6 Myths About Senior Fitness by Help Guide

Myth 1: There’s no point to exercising. I’m going to get old Myth 4: I’m too old to start exercising.
anyway. Fact: You’re never too old to get moving and
Fact: Regular physical activity helps you look and feel younger improve your health! In fact, adults who become active later in life
and stay independent longer. It also lowers your risk for a variety often show greater physical and mental improvements than their
of conditions, including Alzheimer’s and dementia, heart disease, younger counterparts. If you’ve never exercised before, or it’s been
diabetes, certain cancers, high blood pressure, and obesity. And a while, you won’t be encumbered by the same sports injuries that
the mood benefits of exercise can be just as great at 70 or 80 as many regular exercisers experience in later life. In other words,
they were at 20 or 30. there aren’t as many miles on your clock so you’ll quickly start
reaping the rewards. Just begin with gentle activities and build up
Myth 2: Exercise puts me at risk of falling down. from there.
Fact: Regular exercise, by building strength and stamina,
prevents loss of bone mass and improves balance, actually Myth 5: I can’t exercise because I’m disabled.
reducing your risk of falling. Fact: Chair-bound people face special challenges but can lift light
weights, stretch, and do chair aerobics, chair yoga, and chair Tai
Myth 3: It’s too frustrating: I’ll never be the athlete I once was. Chi to increase their range of motion, improve muscle tone and
Fact: Changes in hormones, metabolism, bone density, and flexibility, and promote cardiovascular health. Many swimming
muscle mass mean that strength and performance levels pools offer access to wheelchair users and there are adaptive
inevitably decline with age, but that doesn’t mean you can no exercise programs for wheelchair sports such as basketball.
longer derive a sense of achievement from physical activity
or improve your health. The key is to set lifestyle goals that Myth 6: I’m too weak or have too many aches and pains.
are appropriate for your age. And remember: a sedentary Fact: Getting moving can help you manage pain and improve
lifestyle takes a much greater toll on athletic ability than your strength and self-confidence. Many older people find that
biological aging. regular activity not only helps stem the decline in strength and
vitality that comes with age, but actually improves it. The key is
to start off gently.

Gary Lee Price
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