National Exercise Day 2024
National Exercise Day is April 18! Regular exercise is important for everyone but is especially crucial for seniors. At Traditions, physical activity is an important part of the daily routine for our residents. Our partners at 360 Wellness have prepared some information and resources that highlight the importance of exercise for seniors.
Benefits of Physical Activity for Seniors
Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your overall physical and mental health as you age. For older adults, regular physical activity is associated with maintaining quality of life, health, and physical function as well as reducing the risk of falls. Regular physical activity is important to maintaining independence as well.
Exercise has been linked to lowering the risk of various cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes, and various types of cancer as well as improving overall mental health and function. Physical activity can mean something different for each individual but should include cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and balance training each week. Traditions offers many ways for residents to participate in individualized exercise training or group exercise training which can offer benefits such as socialization and encouragement from peers!
Not only are there numerous health benefits to staying active, but regular exercise also releases endorphins (“feel good hormones”) which can help with stress relief and overall happiness and satisfaction. Regular physical activity can also help with improving sleep, which is especially important in aging adults.
We hope this information will motivate you to incorporate exercises into your daily routine to prevent disease, improve physical and mental health, strengthen social interaction, and improve cognitive function. Be sure to check your community’s activity calendars for opportunities to participate in individual or group exercise and physical activities.
Types of Physical Activity for Seniors
Here are some important exercises that can help seniors maintain a high quality of life while staying in shape and mitigating the risk of falls.
- Strength training
- Chair push-ups
- Lifting light weights
- Walking
- Walk outdoors, weather permitting
- Treadmill
- Balance training
- Sit to stand
- Single leg stand
Check out 360 Wellness LinkedIn page or Facebook page to learn more about their services.
* Please consult with your doctor before getting any exercise routine.
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